NEWTON, N.C. — A devastating head-on collision late Saturday night, October 25, 2025, on Settlemyre Bridge Road near White Oak Drive in Catawba County, has left one man dead and several others critically injured, according to the North Carolina State Highway Patrol.
Troopers say the crash occurred around 9:10 p.m. when a 2019 Nissan Altima, driven by 40-year-old Christopher Shea Houser of Newton, crossed the centerline and collided head-on with a westbound 2018 Infiniti Q50. Houser, who was not wearing a seat belt, died at the scene from his injuries. Authorities noted that Houser had a history of prior DUI arrests.
The driver of the Infiniti, 22-year-old Isrrael Suarez-Hernandez of Newton, was critically injured and airlifted to a nearby trauma center. One adult passenger and two children traveling in the Infiniti also suffered life-threatening injuries and were transported to the hospital. Their current conditions remain undisclosed.
Preliminary findings indicate that both impairment and speed were likely contributing factors in the crash. Settlemyre Bridge Road was closed for several hours as investigators worked to reconstruct the scene.
The tragic incident has shaken the Newton community, serving as a grim reminder of the dangers of impaired driving. No charges will be filed in connection with the collision.