A 56-year-old Sampson County man remained in the surgical trauma unit of New Hanover Regional Medical Center Wednesday afternoon, suffering from injuries he sustained in a wreck that claimed the lives of his wife and mother two days earlier.

Because of privacy laws, no further condition update was available on Donald Ray Potter, of 9317 High House Road, Salemburg. He was a passenger in a car driven by his wife, Debra Bass Potter, 62, of the High House Road address. His mother, Juanita Faye Potter, 74, of 107 Royal Lane Apts., Clinton, was also in the vehicle at the time of the accident.

Both Juanita Potter and Debra Potter were killed in the wreck which happened around 3 p.m. Monday afternoon on U.S. 421 in Pender County.

According to N.C. Highway Patrol reports, released from the Kenansville office, the accident occurred 11.4 miles northwest near Burgaw when Debra Potter drove left of center, colliding with an oncoming log truck.

The Potter vehicle, reports show, came to rest on the east side of U.S. 421; the 18-wheeler, which was loaded with logs at the time of the accident, ran off the road to the right and overturned on the left side.

The driver of the 18-wheeler, Jeremiah Lee Jr., 42, of Maple Hill, was transported to Pender Memorial Hospital in Burgaw for treatment of minor injuries.

Donald Potter was taken to New Hanover Regional Medical Center.

Trooper B.M. Chastain was the investigating officer.