A Yancey County man who was involved in a three-vehicle wreck on July 6, 2023 in McDowell County, which resulted in the deaths of two young people, has now been charged for those deaths. Ricky McPeters, age 66, of Burnsville, was charged and taken into custody Wednesday, July 16th, after he was released from the hospital. The charges against McPeters included two counts of felony death by vehicle, possession of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, reckless driving, driving left of center, and no insurance, according to the N.C. Highway Patrol.
The wreck happened when a 2012 GMC pickup driven by McPeters crossed the centerline on U.S. 221 North and struck a 2020 Buick and a 2017 Jeep Cherokee head on. Delaney Janet Leierzapf, age 21, of Cary, who was a passenger in the Jeep, was pronounced dead at the scene. Caius Peterson Arrington, age 20 and McPeters were taken to the hospital with critical injuries at the time of the wreck. Arrington passed away July 7th.
The driver of a third vehicle, Lori McIntire, age 58, of Spruce Pine, had three passengers in her car. They were Emily Wantz, age 22, of Spruce Pine; Kevin McGrew, age 25, of Spruce Pine; and an infant girl. They were not injured.
McPeters was taken to the McDowell County Jail and placed under a $175,000 bond.
