Mother of three dies in weekend accident – ​​residents demand changes to road where she died

A Franklin County family is in distress Tuesday after state police said a mother of three children was killed in a traffic accident Saturday.

According to the Highway Patrol, the accident occurred around 4:54 p.m. Saturday on Gooch Road near the Franklin County-Vance County line.

Authorities said the driver, Gody Goff, drove off the road and overturned his vehicle. His passenger, 27-year-old Ashley Carpenter, died in the crash.

Her mother, Kimberly Goodwin Carpenter, said the news still shocked her family.

“It hurts, that’s all,” she said. “One day you have someone who is young, wild and free, and two hours later she’s gone.”

Her family told RAL News that she had a bright smile that brightened up any room she was in and that she loved her three children.

“She was the best daughter God could have given us and the best mother her children could have asked for,” said Kimberly Carpenter.

Johnny Alston, a Franklin County resident, said the road is dangerous. He has complained about its unsafeness and wishes the North Carolina Department of Transportation would put up a speed limit sign.

“The road is so winding,” he said. “In my yard, someone coming from that direction turned around three times right across the street next to the mailbox.”

While police do not believe speed or alcohol played a role in the crash, they said neither Goff nor Carpenter were wearing seat belts at the time of the crash.

Goff was taken to hospital with serious injuries. Police said charges are pending against him.

“As a mother, I don’t know what to feel,” said Kimberly Carpenter. “I’ve lost everyone in my family… losing a child is a different kind of loss.”