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Tuesday, July 15, 2025

Families mourn drivers killed in head-on crash on Highway 15-501, GoFundMe campaigns launched

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Two families are grieving after a tragic head-on collision on Highway 15-501 Monday afternoon claimed the lives of 23-year-old Luke Blanchard and 65-year-old Paul Matthews.

The crash occurred just after 4 p.m. on March 24 when Blanchard, driving a Moore County Schools service truck northbound, swerved into the southbound lane, colliding head-on with Matthews’ Dodge Ram pickup.

Blanchard and Matthews were both pronounced dead at the scene. Their sudden loss has left their families and the Moore County community heartbroken.

GoFundMe campaigns have been launched to assist their families with funeral expenses and financial support during this difficult time.

“Luke was a devoted and loving husband, father, son, brother, cousin, friend and many more,” friends say on the fundraising campaign. “Anything will help Michaela and sweet Jax start navigating this life without their loving husband and father Luke.”

Matthews’ loved ones say “Paul was a loving husband, devoted to his wife of 42 years. He was a proud father and family meant everything to Paul. He was the kind of man who showed his love through his actions—steadfast, protective, and deeply committed to those he cared for.” Family members told Moore County News that Paul enjoyed riding his motorcycle and spending time with his kids and grandkids. “As we grieve this unimaginable loss, we are also faced with the challenge of covering funeral expenses and caring for his young children left behind. We are reaching out to friends, family, and our community to ask for support—whether it’s a donation, a share, or simply a prayer,” the fundraising campaign says.

The community has already begun rallying around the families, with donations and messages of support pouring in. Those wishing to contribute can find the fundraising pages here:

Paul Matthews GoFundMe | Luke Blanchard GoFundMe

The North Carolina Highway Patrol says the crash remains under investigation.

Patrick Priest
Patrick Priest
A Moore County native, Patrick is an award-winning journalist with over 20 years of experience in the news industry at organizations such as CNN, WRAL, CBS 17 and more. He has covered major weather events as a certified NWS SKYWARN Storm Spotter. Patrick's passion is covering breaking news, for which he has won several prestigious news industry awards. He is one of the first N.C. news videographers to become a FAA certified drone pilot.

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