by Leah Justice
leah.justice@tryondailybulletin.com

A Mill Spring woman and her grandson died in a head-on collision Friday afternoon, Nov. 21 after the grandmother crossed the center line along Hwy. 9 near Sunny View and hit another vehicle head on.

Isabell Davis Laughter, 72, was traveling south on Hwy. 9 with four children in a 2001 Pontiac when she crossed the center line and struck a 2014 Ford SUV at approximately 3:30 p.m., according to N.C. State Trooper Matt Strawbridge.

The four children, all under age 16, were transported to local hospitals, two by ambulance and two airlifted.  The two children airlifted were listed in critical condition Friday, but one child died at the hospital on Saturday. The child was a second grader at Lake Lure Classical Academy, according to reports.

The other two passengers were released from the hospital later Friday, according to reports.

The driver of the SUV, Frances Durban, 53, of Charlotte was also transported and suffered a broken collarbone, according to reports.

Troopers said it appears Laughter was not wearing a seatbelt and two of her passengers may also have not been wearing seatbelts. Local emergency services workers extricated Laughter from the vehicle.

The collision occurred along Hwy. 9 near Garret Road where traffic was shut down for approximately four hours.