At approximately 5:30 p.m. on Monday afternoon, the Sparta mountain claimed the lives of a father, mother and young son. James Lee Perry, wife, Amy Mullis Perry and their 11-year-old son, Brandon Lee Perry, of Sparta, were traveling south on U.S. Hwy. 21 when their 1984 Datsun pickup truck crossed the center line and collided head-on with a box truck being driven by Carroll Gene Howell of Sparta. The Perry's two teenage daughters survived the accident.

"The Perry family was killed instantly," State highway patrol officer G. Haydt said. "The accident is still under investigation because there was no apparent reason for the vehicle crossing the center line. A toxicology report has been ordered also."

Howell's vehicle was a commercial, two-axle farm truck and Haydt performed a motor carrier inspection on the vehicle on Tuesday.

"Mr. Howell sustained some injuries, but was treated and released," Haydt said.

The Sparta mountain is infamous for traffic accidents, most of which involve serious injury and/or death. Haydt advises drivers to be aware of the road they are traveling and their surroundings.

"I worked at least four accidents on the 21 Sparta mountain last year," Haydt said. "No accident scene is a good one, but when a child is involved, it's even worse. Seeing the little 11-year-old bothered me, I keep seeing the pictures playing over in my mind. It's hard on the officers, medical personnel, and fire and rescue personnel to work these scenes. We are all affected when a life is lost, especially the life of a child.

Haydt offered advice for drivers through the holiday season.

"Drivers just need to pay attention more and slow down. Leave sooner, get there a little later, slow down and by all means wear your seat belt to help ensure you arrive safely to your destination.

Holidays are especially bad times for accidents," he said. "Families are in a hurry to reach their destinations, with a limited amount of time to be there, and then they leave later than planned and break the speed limit laws trying to return home. Drivers must obey the traffic laws. My wish is that drivers would put us out of business by obeying the laws. No officer wants to work the scene of an accident, but I would really rather not ever have to work the scene of a fatality. If people would just pay attention and slow down, lives could be saved."

The Cherry Lane Volunteer Fire Department responded to the accident. Chief Johnny Simons wanted to express to drivers the importance of slowing down on the mountain.

"Drivers need to be careful and use caution, especially coming down around that big curve," Simons said. "The roads were wet when this accident occurred and it may have had something to do with it, we just don't know. But, we do know, that wet roads and U.S. 21 from Sparta down to Roaring Gap is a dangerous section of road and many accidents occur there. We'd like to thank the additional emergency personnel that helped on the scene. We appreciate State Road fire department the Sparta fire department, Glade Creek, and Sparta. We also want to thank the highway patrol, and Alleghany ambulance and rescue squad."