FROM STAFF REPORTS

The Statesville Police Department is investigating a head-on collision that claimed a woman’s life on Thursday evening.

According to an SPD news release, Sharon Hunter was operating a 2007 Volkswagen Jetta traveling west on Garner Bagnal Boulevard near the intersection with Cochran Street about 8:15 p.m. when her vehicle was hit head-on by an eastbound Mercury Mountaineer driven by Kenneth Gobble.

As Gobble approached the intersection, he was not aware or did not see a Kia Soul in his lane of travel waiting for Hunter’s vehicle to pass so it could make a left turn onto Cochran Street, police said. Gobble was unable to reduce the speed of his vehicle and veered into oncoming traffic and struck Hunter’s vehicle, according to the news release.

Hunter was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.

Gobble was transported to Iredell Memorial Hospital for minor injuries.