DOBSON — A state highway patrolman said yesterday that no additional charges will be filed against a driver whose front seat passenger was killed two Sundays ago in a wreck on U.S. 601 at Rockford Road near Dobson.

According to Trooper J.R. Vindich of the North Carolina Highway Patrol, the accident occurred on May 2 when Jesse Eugene Bates, 18, of Glade Valley, allegedly pulled across U.S. 601 from Rockford Road in front of the path of a car being driven southbound on 601 by Christy Nicole Bright, 18, of Sparta. Bright’s car struck the passenger door of Bates’ vehicle, and Bates’ front seat passenger, Mitchell Jared Riggins, 19, of Zephyr-Mountain Park Road, was killed in the wreck. The others involved in the wreck are now recovering, according to the county’s emergency services director.

Vindich investigated the incident, and he said yesterday that Bates was only cited for failure to yield the right-of-way. No other charges will be filed. He said a Drug Recognition Expert evaluation was completed after the wreck, and Bates did not show any signs of impairment. He said the district attorney’s office has closed the case because no negligence was found. The trooper said that unfortunately many people fail to yield like they should before pulling out.

On the day of the wreck, Vindich said, “A vehicle in front of (Bates) made a right-hand turn, and I don’t know if it obstructed his view or not of the vehicle traveling south on 601. But still, he failed to yield the right-of-way.”

John Shelton, director of Surry County Emergency Services, said Riggins died at Northern Hospital of Surry County. Riggins and one of the backseat passengers, Michael Pinnix, 19, of Mount Airy, were both pinned in the vehicle and had to be extricated by members of the Dobson Rescue Squad. Pinnix was transported by AirCare from Surry Community College to Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center. Vindich said yesterday he had heard that Pinnix had undergone major surgery but was doing OK. The other backseat passenger, Kenneth Southard, 20, of Thurmond, refused treatment on the scene, according to officials.

Bright, the driver of the other car, had to be transported to Baptist, but Shelton said yesterday that he heard she is doing well. Her passenger, Courtney Leann Wood, 20, of Dobson, was treated at Northern Hospital and released, Shelton said.

“They’re all recuperating,” said Shelton.

New turn lanes and a stop light will soon be constructed at the intersection that now has a caution light, according to Daniel Adams, deputy division traffic engineer with the N.C. Department of Transportation. Adams did not have specific plans for the project, but he said it is scheduled to be completed before the new school year starts this fall. He said the project was scheduled because of the new Rockford Elementary School being constructed on Rockford Road.

Several wrecks have taken place at the intersection in recent years, and a traffic camera is set up there.

Contact Meghann Evans at mevans@mtairynews.com or 719-1952.