Hickory man dies in head-on collision in Gastonia
A Hickory man died after his car crossed the center line and hit another car head-on in the 2500 block of North Chester Street (U.S. 321) in Gastonia Thursday night, police said.
Joseph Robert Bazzle, 43, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police said Bazzle was speeding southbound and was not wearing a seat belt when his 2015 Mitsubishi Mirage hit a 2015 Hyundai Sonata about 7:30 p.m.
The driver of the Sonata, Kevin Walters, 54, of Atlanta, Ga., was taken to CaroMont Regional Medical Center in Gastonia with non-life-threatening injuries.
Police said they won’t know if a medical condition or impairing substances factored into the wreck until a medical examiner investigation is complete.
Anyone who saw the collision, or who saw Bazzle before the wreck, is encouraged to call Gastonia police Officer J. Bain at 704-866- 6702.
Joe Marusak: 704-358-5067, @jmarusak
This story was originally published June 3, 2016 at 6:58 AM with the headline "Hickory man dies in head-on collision in Gastonia."