One killed, one charged in fatal Edgecombe County wreck

Glenn Dickens of Rocky Mount was driving a Nissan Altima north on N.C. Highway 43 when he struck the rear of a vehicle driven by Matthew Varnell, 39, of Rocky Mount, the N.C. State Highway Patrol said. Varnell’s vehicle then veered into the path of a vehicle driven by Ashley Harrell of Macclefield, who had three children in her vehicle, ages 11, 5 and 1.

Varnell died as a result of the wreck. Others involved were injured, but none were life-threatening, troopers said.

Dickens was charged with misdemeanor death by motor vehicle and failure to reduce speed, troopers said.