Garbage truck driver charged in fatal Gastonia wreck

A garbage truck driver has been charged in a December wreck in Gastonia that killed a 31-year-old woman.

Police on Thursday charged Robert Calvin Dawkins, 51, of Gastonia, with misdemeanor death by vehicle. Dawkins is free on a $5,000 bail.

Police said Leslie Barrientos and her husband, Moises, were traveling south on South Chester Street on Dec. 22 when their 2014 Ford Fusion was hit by the truck that was headed west on Franklin Boulevard.

Leslie Barrientos died at the scene. Moises Barrientos and Dawkins were taken to CaroMont Regional Medical Center in Gastonia with non-life-threatening injuries.

Joe Marusak

This story was originally published January 8, 2016 at 7:17 AM with the headline "Garbage truck driver charged in fatal Gastonia wreck."