Head-On Crash Kills Campbell Professor, 2nd Driver


Posted: Today at 7:12 a.m.
Updated: 26 minutes ago

Newton Grove, N.C. — A head-on, two vehicle crash Saturday night on U.S. Highway 701 in Sampson County claimed the lives of a Campbell University pharmacy professor and a second driver and injured a third person, the Highway Patrol said.

Lewis M. Fetterman Jr., 58, of Clinton, was driving a Chrysler minivan south when a northbound 1992 Ford crossed the highway and they collided head-on, troopers said. The Ford driver, Alejandro Antonio Rivas, also died.

Joni-Fay Watts Fetterman, 56, a passenger in the minivan, was taken to Sampson Regional Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries, the patrol reported. She was released from the hospital Sunday.

The crash happened about 1.7 miles south of Newton Grove.

Troopers said Rivas, of 264 Preston Lane, is thought to have had alcohol in his system. Toxicology reports have not been released yet. The 46-year-old was not a licensed driver, troopers said.

Lewis Fetterman was an assistant professor of pharmaceutical sciences at Campbell. He held a doctorate in analytical chemistry.

“He was viewed as a strong, forthright, Christian, gentleman scholar and I think we're all deeply saddened by his loss,â€