Sunday wreck claims two lives
By Amanda Karr
The Daily Reflector
Tuesday, September 26, 2006
Two Farmville residents died Sunday after the vehicles they were driving collided.
Celeste Kirby, 44, of 219 Murphy St. and Amy Mozingo, 24, of 109 N. Contentnea St. were killed as a result of the wreck about 8:30 p.m., State Highway Patrol Sgt. R.E. Bowen said.
Greg Eans/The Daily Reflector(ENLARGE)
The site of the accident on NC Hwy 13 Sunday evening. The accident occured 1 mile west of Ballards Crossroads.
A passenger in Mozingo's vehicle, Robert Avery, 22, of 464 U.S. 13 North, Farmville, was treated at Pitt County Memorial Hospital and released Monday.
The two women were headed in opposite directions on U.S. 13 between Langs and Ballards crossroads when they crashed.
Kirby, driving a 1997 Buick passenger car, was driving west. Mozingo, in a 2004 Toyota passenger car, was headed east.
Kirby crossed the center line, hitting Mozingo head-on and sending her vehicle into the ditch on the side of the road, Bowen said.
Both women were driving approximately the 55 mph speed limit at the time, Bowen said.
Mozingo died at the scene of the crash. EastCare flew Kirby to Pitt County Memorial Hospital where she later died. Avery was transported by ambulance.
Bowen said investigators could not immediately determine whether those involved were wearing seat belts. It also is unclear what caused Kirby to cross the center line, he said.
Mozingo was a graduate of East Carolina University and was in her third year teaching special education at West Greene Elementary School in Snow Hill.
"She was an outstanding teacher. She truly had a world of potential in front of her and was determined to take advantage of that," Principal Patrick Miller said.
She was working on her master's degree and planning to become nationally board certified, Miller said. She was also very involved in school activities, volunteering to spearhead the creation of the school yearbook, co-chairing the Relay for Life team and contributing to developing state required test questions for special needs children.
"She was very involved. She loved West Greene. She loved her students. It was evident in everything she did," Miller said.
Counselors were at the school Monday to talk with students and adults alike about their loss, he said.
Amanda Karr can be contacted at and 329-9574.