One person killed in Mount Holly wreck

A person died Thursday morning from injuries suffered in a car wreck on Hickory Grove Road near Lane Road and East Gaston High School.

Joshua Matthew Mullins, 37, of Gastonia, had just dropped a child off at a day care center and was headed to work in his Chevrolet Tahoe when he struck a vehicle from behind that had stopped at a traffic signal at Lane Road, according to Highway Patrol Trooper Ray Pierce.

Mullins, who was headed south, continued across the northbound lanes and eventually stopped after hitting a tree. Mullins continued to accelerate after hitting the other car and there was no sign of him braking before hitting the tree, leading investigators to believe a prior medical condition caused the wreck.

Family members told investigators Mullins took medicine to control seizures, although he was licensed to drive, Pierce said.

"We believe he was unconscious or incapacitated before striking the tree," Pierce said.

The woman in the car Mullins struck was not injured. 

The wreck occurred around 7:33 a.m., Pierce said.

You can reach Kevin Ellis at 704-201-7016 or email him at kellis@gastongazette.com.