SHALLOTTE, NC, (September 09, 2026) – Mary Frances Long, 53, of Crusoe, was killed Wednesday morning in a head-on crash involving a DWI driver near Shallotte in Brunswick County.
According to the North Carolina State Highway Patrol, Long was driving a 2023 Nissan Rogue eastbound on N.C. Highway 130 while a Jeep Liberty was traveling west on the same roadway.
The collision occurred around 10:35 a.m. when the Jeep driver, Charlotte Russ Milligan, 54, of Ash, crossed the centerline and struck Long’s vehicle head-on.
Long suffered fatal injuries and died at the scene. Milligan was transported to a hospital with injuries.
Milligan was initially charged with driving while impaired, driving while license revoked for an impaired-driving offense, misdemeanor death by vehicle, and driving left of center. An aggravated felony death by vehicle charge was added on September 13.
Milligan was arrested September 21 on the aggravated felony charge and given a $125,000 secured bond. According to an arrest affidavit, Milligan told investigators she had taken methadone before driving.
Court records show Milligan also had a prior impaired-driving conviction in Brunswick County District Court on December 8, 2025.
