A 2021 Mitchell County graduate and former football player has passed away after being involved in a tragic head on collision in McDowell County on July 6th. Twenty year old Caius Jaymes Peterson Arrington of Bakersville and his girlfriend, 21 year old Delaney Janet Leierzapf, of Cary, NC, were traveling to the beach at 10:20 am Thursday morning when the deadly wreck occurred on US-221 near Quality Stone. Troopers say a black 2012 GMC pickup driven by Ricky McPeters, age 66 of Burnsville, was traveling southbound on US 221 North and crossed the center line, hitting a 2022 Buick driven by Lori McIntire, age 58, of Spruce Pine. She 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, according to a report by Trooper B.M. McDaniel.
McPeters’ truck then crashed head-on into the white 2017 Jeep Cherokee driven by Caius Peterson Arrington. Passenger Delaney Leierzapf died at the scene. Caius Peterson Arrington and Ricky McPeters were taken to the hospital with critical injuries at the time of the wreck. McPeters remains at Mission Hospital. The wreck is still under investigation. According to First Sgt. J.E. Reid with the Highway Patrol Caius Peterson Arrington was removed from life support Sunday, July 9th. An honor walk was held at Mission Hospital as his organs were donated.
Caius Peterson Arrington was a four-year letterman in varsity basketball and a two-year letterman in varsity football. At the end of his decorated high school basketball career he had scored 1,089 points, grabbed 713 rebounds (which ranks first in the school’s history) and dished out 215 assists. He was a three-time Western Highlands All-Conference performer and the Western Highlands Conference Player of the Year as a Senior. In varsity football he recorded 106 tackles as a junior, had 13 tackles for lost yardage and 20 quarterback hurries. During his shortened senior season due to COVID restrictions he had 29 tackles and had a 73-yard touchdown reception. At the end of his senior year in 2021, he was voted the Western Highlands Conference Male Athlete of the Year.
The memorial service for Caius will be held on Sunday, July 16, 2023 at 2:30 pm in the gym on the campus of Mitchell High School. The gym will be open beginning at 1:00 pm for the visitors to begin seating for the memorial service set to begin at 2:30 pm. The Mitchell Mountaineer family is encouraged to wear your purple in support of Caius’ family.
A scholarship has been established in Caius’ honor. The family has requested that in lieu of flowers, donations to be made to the Caius Arrington Scholarship fund, C/O Mitchell High School Athletic Department, 416 Ledger School Road, Bakersville, NC 28705.
