HIGH POINT CONFIDENTIAL: Death race - Late-night competition proved fatal in 1957
DAVIDSON COUNTY — A sharp bend on a rural Davidson County road may not officially be known as "dead man's curve," but it was deadly for a High Point teenager nearly 70 years ago.
The curve on Abbotts Creek Church Road — right in front of Abbotts Creek Missionary Baptist Church — was the scene of a fatal crash when a midnight drag race went horribly wrong. Ironically, a highway patrolman was on his way there to bust the young speeders — a neighbor had called the authorities to report them — but he got there too late.
The year was 1957, and the tragedy unfolded like a movie scene from the same era. It began around 11:30 p.m. on the night of Oct. 22, in the parking lot of an unnamed drive-in on North Main Street. Three young High Point men's boastful chatter about their cars led to a challenge to see whose machine was the fastest, so they followed one another to a long, dark stretch of Abbotts Creek Church Road, about two miles past the church, to settle the question once and for all.
In one car were James Edward "Jack" Hearne, 25, and James Marvin Adams, 19. Hearne owned the vehicle, but before starting the race they reportedly switched places, so that Adams was driving Hearne's car.
The other two drivers (whose names The Enterprise is withholding) were 20 and 25, respectively. The 20-year-old actually raced against Adams, while newspaper accounts indicate the other man only went to watch and did not participate in the race.
When the race began, Adams floored the gas pedal and rocketed in front. As he tore down the road, though, he met a car coming from the opposite direction, forcing that driver to yank his car off to the side as Adams zipped by him. Thinking the vehicle might've been a patrol car, Adams sped up to flee the scene, leaving his opponent and the spectator trailing far behind.
Unfortunately, though, Adams sped up too much and couldn't handle the curve in front of Abbotts Creek.
"When he reached the church curve," The High Point Enterprise reported, "he lost control of Hearne's car. The vehicle shot off the road on a straight line, hit a tree, bounced off and went another 111 feet before stopping."
The impact from the tree sheared off the left side of the car and threw both occupants from the vehicle. Hearne only suffered back abrasions in the crash, but Adams was not so lucky. The Enterprise reported he died of a fractured skull and concussion. He also suffered arm injuries, and his right side was reportedly "ripped open," according to the newspaper.
The story generated headlines for several days, as officers tried to piece together what had happened. It appears the occupants of the other two cars initially left the scene, but later returned and ultimately admitted their roles in the incident.
Hearne and the other racer faced charges of "prearranged racing," but were cleared by a Thomasville jury. Hearne, however, was also charged with manslaughter, because Adams had died in his vehicle.
Today, some 67 years later, the curve in front of the church still exists, marked by a sign with an arrow warning drivers of the sharp bend where a young man senselessly lost his life.
Meanwhile, Adams lies buried in a small church cemetery near Lexington, the victim of a long-ago, nearly forgotten tragedy. The only clue to his death is the poignant inscription on his tombstone: "The Lord Giveth and the Lord Has Taken Away."
