A North Carolina man has been declared at fault in a wreck that claimed the life of an elderly Buffalo woman.

Jose C. Mendoza, 27, of 2329 Blacksburg Road, Grover, will be charged by the Union Public Safety Department with disregarding a stop sign. Chief Sam White said Mendoza is scheduled to return to Union Wednesday with his attorney.

Ruby Stevens Varner, 86, of 155 Riley Road, died in the wreck that occurred at the intersection of Rice Avenue Extension and Industrial Park Road.

At the time of the accident, it was reported that Mrs. Varner had disregarded a stop sign on Industrial Park Road and her 1999 Chevrolet was struck in the side by Mendoza’s 1999 Ford SUV. It was reported that Mendoza was traveling toward Union from the Lukesville Community on Rice Avenue Extension. There were no witnesses to the accident other than the occupant of Mendoza’s vehicle, his father.

White said Mendoza spoke very little English and his father spoke none.

After consultation with Mrs. Varner’s family, the public safety department requested that the South Carolina Highway Patrol Multi-Disciplinary Accident Investigation Team reconstruct the accident.

According to the MAIT report, several interviews were conducted during the investigation. It was discovered that Mrs. Varner had a 10 a.m. appointment with a local dentist. Her nephew stated that he had seen Mrs. Varner just prior to the collision coming from Buffalo toward Union. The shortest route from Buffalo to Union would have taken Mrs. Varner on Rice Avenue Extension traveling in an easterly direction.

White said the Highway Patrol reported that Mendoza and his father were trying to find the new Japanese restaurant in Buffalo, where Mendoza’s father planned to go to work.

Calculations were completed to determine the speed of the vehicles at impact. The approach and departure angles of both vehicles were determined by aligning the vehicles at impact. The physical evidence found at the scene along with known information about the travel allowed MAIT to align the vehicles at impact.

As a result of the investigation, it was determined that Mrs. Varner was traveling toward Union from the Lukesville Community at a speed of approximately 29 to 33 mph and Mendoza was traveling on Industrial Park Road coming from the National Guard Armory area toward the intersection of Rice Avenue at a speed of around 35 to 39 mph. Mendoza did not stop for the stop sign and struck Mrs. Varner’s vehicle.

After consulting with the solicitor’s office, the disregarding a stop sign charge was lodged against Mendoza. White said the solicitor’s office said if Mendoza had been speeding or driving while intoxicated or displayed gross negligence in operating the vehicle, the charge would have been upgraded. White said other states have a charge that better fits a wreck where someone is killed without extenuating circumstances.

“The Union Public Safety Department feels very fortunate to have been able to receive the professional services of the South Carolina Highway Patrol in order to determine the true circumstances surrounding this accident, which sadly resulted in the loss of Mrs. Varner’s life,” White said.