Child dies in accident on Cowee Mountain

By Carey Phillips

Nettie Rhinehart was taken to Harris Regional Hospital in Sylva then transferred to Mission-St. Joseph's Hospital in Asheville where she was pronounced dead, according to Sgt. Matt Wike of the N.C. Highway Patrol.

The child was a passenger in a 1987 Cadillac being driven by her mother, 26-year-old Vella Mae Rhinehart of Camp Creek Road, Whittier, when the wreck occurred around 10:55 p.m. near the runaway truck ramp.

Rhinehart was southbound when her vehicle "for an unknown reason" crossed the center line and struck head-on a 1989 Chevrolet pickup truck driven by Steve Allen Carpenter, 37, of Franklin, Wike said. After the impact, both vehicles came to rest on the shoulder of the northbound lane.

The child was in a safety seat in the back left seat, Wike said, but the safety seat was not secured to the car. The safety seat dislodged and fell forward on impact, he said.

Mrs. Rhinehart was taken to Bowman Gray Medical Center in Winston-Salem. As of Wednesday morning, she was listed in serious condition.

Carpenter was treated and released at Harris Regional Hospital, Wike said.

Kenneth Rhinehart, Vella Rhinehart's husband, was following her in another vehicle, according to Wike. Rhinehart said his wife had asked him to drive behind her because she was having some kind of car trouble.

Wike said speed has been ruled out as a cause, and there is no reason to suspect alcohol. The car's mechanical condition is being investigated.

Trooper B.S. Parker is the investigating officer.

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