An Alexander County woman was killed in a weekend crash in Catawba County. The deceased is 35-year-old Elizabeth Rose Bushatz of Hiddenite.

On Saturday, May 13, at approximately 6:20 p.m., the North Carolina State Highway Patrol responded to N.C. 16 near St. Johns Church Road. A 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt was traveling south on NC 16, crossed the centerline, and collided head-on with a northbound 2011 Mitsubishi Galant.

The driver of the Cobalt, Elizabeth Rose Bushatz, was transported by medical helicopter to Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center, where she succumbed to her injuries. She was not restrained by a seatbelt. The driver of the Galant, a Taylorsville resident, and a passenger were were transported by EMS to Catawba Valley Medical Center with non life-threatening injuries.

N.C. 16 was closed in the area for over an hour during the on-scene investigation. The initial investigation indicates excessive speed to be the contributing circumstance in the collision.