An early morning accident Monday sent two area residents to the hospital. The NC Highway Patrol responded to the 7 a.m. incident in the construction zone of Hwy 19E near the old Mustang Station in which a 1997 Kia driven by 39-year-old Jody Atkins of Spruce Pine ran into the rear of a Young-McQueen work truck that was driven by 46-year-old James Moore III of Burnsville. Moore was stopped to make a right turn when the accident happened. Both drivers were transported to the Blue Ridge Medical Center in Spruce Pine where they were treated for minor injuries and later released. Atkins was cited for failure to reduce speed by the Highway Patrol.