An East Carolina University (ECU) student has admitted guilt in connection to a tragic car accident in Pender County in 2018. The crash resulted in the death of a mother and severe injuries to her young son, marking a devastating outcome for the victims and their family.
Travis Luckinbill, 21, from Raleigh, entered a guilty plea today, according to District Attorney Ben David. Luckinbill will face a minimum of three years behind bars after pleading guilty to felony serious injury by motor vehicle and felony death by motor vehicle. This plea brings a degree of closure to a case that has deeply affected the Sneads Ferry community and East Carolina University.
The heart-wrenching incident occurred on October 6, 2018, on Highway 50. Robin Blankenship, a 28-year-old resident of Sneads Ferry, tragically lost her life in the head-on collision. Her two-year-old son, Jaxon, who was in the vehicle with her, sustained critical injuries.
Young Jaxon endured a skull fracture and required hospitalization for several weeks following the crash. The severity of his injuries underscores the brutal impact of the collision caused by the ECU student. Surf City police investigations revealed that Luckinbill’s vehicle collided head-on with Blankenship’s car, leading to the fatal consequences.
Further investigation by the District Attorney’s office revealed disturbing details regarding Luckinbill’s state at the time of the crash. Blood samples taken from Luckinbill showed the presence of multiple substances, including THC, alprazolam (commonly known as Xanax), MDA, and MDMA (ecstasy) in his system. The presence of these impairing substances clearly indicates a severe lapse in judgment and responsibility on Luckinbill’s part, leading to the catastrophic event.
Initial Arrest and Charges
Following the crash in 2018, Travis Luckinbill, then a 20-year-old ECU student majoring in Management, faced a staggering 15 charges. These initial charges included driving while impaired (DWI) and multiple counts of drug possession, highlighting the gravity of the situation from the outset.
The charges levied against Luckinbill immediately after the incident were:
- Felony death by motor vehicle
- Felony serious injury by motor vehicle
- Driving while impaired (DWI)
- Careless and reckless driving
- Driving after consuming an impairing substance by a person less than 21 years of age
- Driving left of center
- Possession of unfortified wine by a 19/20-year-old
- Open container of malt beverage
- Possession of a fraudulent ID card
- Possession of ecstasy
- Possession of Adderall
- Possession of Xanax
- Possession of marijuana
- Two counts of possession of drug paraphernalia
East Carolina University confirmed that Luckinbill was an enrolled student since the fall of 2017, pursuing a degree in Management. The university community, like the wider community, was undoubtedly shocked and saddened by the news of a student being involved in such a tragic and allegedly preventable incident.
After being treated at New Hanover Regional Medical Center following the crash, Luckinbill was taken into custody. He was initially held on a $100,000 bond, reflecting the serious nature of the charges and the devastating consequences of his actions. Police reports from Greenville also indicated a prior misdemeanor larceny arrest a month before the fatal crash, where Luckinbill was accused of stealing beer from a local convenience store, suggesting a pattern of reckless behavior.
The Crash Scene and Immediate Aftermath
The accident occurred around 9:30 a.m. on a Saturday morning along Highway 50 in Surf City, near Atkinson Point Road. Robin Blankenship was driving westbound in her Toyota Prius when Travis Luckinbill, driving a Jeep Wrangler eastbound, crossed the center line and collided head-on with her vehicle.
Captain J.S. Johnson of the Surf City Police Department reported the grim details: Robin Blankenship was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash. Her two-year-old son, who was with her in the car, suffered critical injuries and was immediately transported to New Hanover Regional Medical Center for intensive care. Luckinbill and his passenger were also hospitalized following the collision.
Numerous emergency response teams, including the Surf City Fire Department, Pender E.M.S. and Fire, N.C. Highway Patrol, Pender County Sheriff’s Office, and the N.C. A.L.E., responded to the scene, highlighting the scale and severity of the incident. The collaborative effort of these agencies underscores the impact this crash had on the local emergency services and the wider community.
Guilty Plea and Sentencing
Travis Luckinbill’s guilty plea to felony charges marks a significant step in the legal proceedings following the 2018 crash. While no sentence can undo the tragic loss of Robin Blankenship or fully heal the injuries suffered by her son Jaxon, the guilty plea and subsequent prison sentence offer a measure of accountability for the devastating actions of the ECU student. The community now looks towards healing and supporting the Blankenship family as they continue to cope with the profound impact of this preventable tragedy.
