A Clinton man, injured in an accident on U.S. 421 north Saturday, was released from the hospital Monday afternoon, according to Ann Butler, Sampson Regional Medical Center vice president of marketing and community relations.

Neil Strickland, of 142 Blaze Lane, Clinton, was treated for his injuries and discharged Monday, Butler confirmed.

Strickland was involved in an accident Saturday at 2:30 p.m. when the 2004 Ford Ranger he was driving struck water, hydroplaned and slid into a Honda Accord, driven by Michelle Denise McLamb, 29, of 3668 Preacher Henry Road, Faison.

According to reports, Strickland’s 29-year-old wife, Kelly Pope Strickland, was killed instantly in the accident.

McLamb was taken to Sampson Regional Medical Center and then transported to New Hanover Regional Medical Center late Saturday. A spokeswoman for the hospital confirmed that, as of Tuesday afternoon, McLamb was still a registered patient.

Because of privacy laws, no further condition information was available, and a call to the room went unanswered.

Two additional fatalities

According to officials from the N.C. Highway Patrol, two other traffic fatalities that took place on Sampson County roadways over the weekend are still under investigation.

At 2:15 a.m. Sunday morning, a vehicle carrying Reginaldo Prada Elvir, Jr, 23, of 99 Sasser Lane, Clinton, and driven by Carlos Alfonso Matute, 21, of 266 Nicole Lane, Clinton, was headed east on Byrd-Yancey Bass Road, near Clinton, when it ran off the road and struck a tree. The tree broke in half on impact and fell on top of the passenger, Elvir, killing him instantly. Matute was taken to the hospitial and treated and released with non-life threatning injuries. Charges are still pending as of press time.

At 3:30 a.m. Sunday morning, a Latino male in his early 20s was walking down Lassiter Road when he was struck by a car and killed instantly. The vehicle involved in the hit-and-run is said to possibly be a Honda with damage to the left front quarter panel.

The name of the deceased was not being released until officials can notify the next of kin.

“We are working with officials in Raleigh to try and make sure these families are located and notified,” said N.C. Highway Patrol First Sgt. D.L. Hewitt Tuesday. “We are still working on it.”

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