Couple dies after hitting tree in front of police department | News

GASTONIA, NC (WBTV) - Two people were killed Tuesday evening when their car hit a tree head on in front of the Gaston County Police Department. 

Police say Kay Toomey, 64, and her husband Grady, also 64, were driving west on Long Avenue when their car went off the roadway and crashed around 5 p.m.

Both died on impact, police said.

According to police, the car was traveling between 80-90 miles per hour when it hit the tree.

Friends and neighbors say the couple had lived in Gastonia their entire lives, and both Grady, who everyone knew as Max, and Kay were well known.

"Just good folks, that's all I can say," said Gary Jackson, who had known the couple for decades.  "Just good, wonderful people.  And we certainly will miss having them in our community."

Jackson is chief of the Community Volunteer Fire Department, where firefighters met Tuesday night to talk about how best to help Marcus Toomey, the couple's surviving son.

Marcus Toomey used to volunteer at the Community Volunteer Fire Department, and Jackson says the Toomeys were big supporters of the department as well as other community causes.

Jackson says Max Toomey was quick with a joke and had a fascination with trains.

Kimberly Cathcart, who lives across the street from the Toomey's home, says both Max and Kay were dealing with medical issues.

She says Max would sometimes have seizures, and she believes something like that must have happened since the car he was driving was going so fast.

"He had to have a seizure or something," she said.  "Some kind of medical condition.  He does not speed, he does not speed.  He's always under the speed limit." 

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