Another life was claimed on Sampson County roadways over the weekend, the 16th such fatal car wreck of the year.

This one, a single-car accident, took place early Sunday morning.

Billy Ray Morrison, II, 21, of 250 Lofton Road, Newton Grove, was killed after he lost control of his vehicle on Dudley Road Sunday morning around 1:50 a.m.

According to reports from the N.C. Highway Patrol, Morrison was traveling east on Dudley Road near Newton Grove when he entered a curb at a high rate of speed, ran off the road to the right, overcorrected and ran off the left side of the road

N.C. Highway Patrol Sgt. D.S. Kinlaw noted that Morrison’s vehicle then struck a ditch and overturned in a wooded area.

“The report has his speed at 80 mph,” Kinlaw said. “The posted speed is 55 mph.”

Kinlaw also stated that Morrison was ejected from the vehicle when the car flipped and was pronounced dead at the scene.

“He was not wearing a seat belt,” the sergeant noted. “He was killed instantly.”

The wreck comes just three days after an 8-year-old Garland girl was killed when the vehicle she was a passenger in flipped over, ejecting her.

Morrison is the 16th person killed on Sampson County roadways this year. There were 22 fatal wrecks in the county at this point in 2009.

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