Just nine days before Christmas, a Sampson County 6-year-old lost their life in a collision that took place Thursday morning.

According to N.C. Highway Patrol Sgt. D.S. Kinlaw, the youngster was killed in an accident that happened on Helltown Road near Garland.

It was not clear if the accident had anything to do with Thursday’s inclement weather that closed Sampson County Schools and had troopers tending to at least 20 accidents logged in by 1 p.m.. Thursday afternoon.

“It has been a bad day,” the trooper noted of the fatality and the mounting accidents being called in across Sampson.

The report that contained details of the child’s death was not filed by press time Thursday, however, Kinlaw said it would be ready Friday morning.

The death marks the 15th on Sampson County roadways this year. There were 22 fatal wrecks in the county at this point in 2009.

See the full story in Sunday’s Sampson Independent.

To reach Doug Clark call 910-592-8137 ext. 123 or send e-mail to sisports@heartlandpublications.com.