Shelby High teen killed in wreck on N.C. 150 Thursday night

A 16-year-old Shelby High student died Thursday night as the result of a two-car crash in Cleveland County.

The wreck happened on N.C. 150 around 7 p.m. near Maple Springs Road between Shelby and Boiling Springs, according to the N.C. Highway Patrol.

Two teens were in a Honda Civic going west on N.C. 150 when they tried to make a left turn, striking a Chevrolet Tahoe head-on, troopers said.

The passenger in the Honda, 16-year-old Gabriel Dibruno, died after the impact. The other teen who was driving the Honda was airlifted to Spartanburg Medical Center with serious injuries.

Johnnie Powell knew Dibruno well and said he was a student at Shelby High School who had a passion for his family.

“When I heard about it, it was a nightmare really,” Powell told WSOC TV. “He was a great kid, and I hate that he lost his life at this time.”

Neighbor Sabrina Williams she heard the crash from inside her home and knew it was a bad one.

When she looked outside, she saw the driver of the Tahoe crawling out. Both the driver and passenger in that car were not seriously hurt.

She quickly learned about what happened to the teens in the Honda.

“We all just as a community combined together and just sit back and prayed,” said Williams.

Williams said there have been a lot of crashes at that intersection, which she says is about half the length of a football field from her house.

“A child did lose their life, and that’s not fair to nobody,” Williams said.

Williams mentioned that bad accidents happen there as often as once a month.

The investigating trooper told WSOC that he agreed that the intersection was dangerous. He plans to register his concern with the Department of Transportation in his Traffic Condition Report.

Safety experts will then look at the number of accidents and evaluate the conditions at the intersection.

“Change speed limit. Put stop lights up. Do something to help,” Williams said.

Alcohol and speed do not appear to be factors in the crash, troopers said. The two crash victims were wearing seat belts.

The trooper said he has to talk to the district attorney about possible charges in the crash.