Driver Faces Felony Charges as Families and Community Grieve
CATAWBA COUNTY, NC — A heartbreaking tragedy has shaken the small communities of Claremont and Valdese after an early-morning crash on Thursday, July 17, claimed the lives of two young women and left two others injured — the result, authorities say, of impaired driving.
Just after 2 a.m., emergency crews responded to a harrowing single-vehicle accident on Boggs Road near Hunsucker Drive. According to the North Carolina State Highway Patrol, 21-year-old Braiden Edward Cole of Catawba was behind the wheel of a 2013 Ford Fusion when he lost control, veering off the left side of the road. The vehicle overturned and slammed into several trees before coming to a stop.
Cole walked away from the crash with minor injuries. His front seat passenger, 53-year-old Donnie Wayne Wilson Jr. of Claremont, was seriously injured and rushed to a local hospital. But the two young women in the backseat never made it home.
Savanah Averie Saine, 19, of Valdese, and a female juvenile whose identity is being withheld due to her age, were both pronounced dead at the scene. Investigators say neither of them was wearing a seatbelt. The grief gripping their families is immeasurable.
In a somber courtroom appearance Friday morning, Braiden Cole faced a magistrate for the first time, charged with driving while impaired and two counts of felony death by motor vehicle. According to those present, Cole expressed deep remorse and admitted to driving under the influence, though for many, those words came too late to undo the damage already done.
Boggs Road remained closed for several hours overnight as Highway Patrol troopers conducted a thorough investigation. Early findings confirm that impairment was a critical factor in the crash.
“This was completely preventable,” one trooper said. “Two families are forever changed. And two lives — full of promise — are gone.”
As news of the crash spread, shock and sorrow rippled through the community. Friends, teachers, and neighbors gathered to remember Savanah, a young woman remembered for her vibrant personality and loving heart. Vigils are being planned in both Valdese and Claremont.
The crash is not just a tragic accident — it’s a cautionary tale about the fatal consequences of impaired driving. Every choice made behind the wheel carries weight. And in this case, that weight has come in the form of unimaginable loss.
Braiden Cole remains in custody as the legal proceedings begin. His next court date is expected to be announced in the coming days.
As Catawba County mourns, the community is left asking the question that always lingers after such senseless tragedy: Why?
Channel 9 will continue to follow this story and bring updates as more information becomes available.
If you or someone you know is struggling with substance use, help is available. Don’t wait until it’s too late.
