Wake County police tracked down an accused hit-and-run driver on Feb. 13 after he allegedly fled the scene of a crash that claimed two lives. The fatal car accident took place in Garner on Interstate 40 where at least three men were trying to service vehicles stuck in a roadside ditch. A 21-year-old Kure Beach man in a Volvo reportedly drove by those men and hit two of them, leaving one dead at the scene and another suffering fatal injuries.
Prior to the hit-and-run crash, a westbound bobtail tractor trailer slid out of control on a stretch of ice, causing two other drivers to head into a ditch to avoid being hit. A 39-year old man in another tractor trailer came to the first driver’s aid, while a 34-year-old Navy man driving one of the cars in the ditch was also approaching the stuck tractor trailer. Both men were allegedly struck by the hit-and-run driver, who reportedly then vacated his vehicle and ran into nearby woods.
The Navy serviceman initially survived the accident, but later passed away at a medical facility. Meanwhile, the Wake County Sheriff’s office collaborated with Raleigh forces to apprehend the hit-and-run driver at his Raleigh home. Sources say the accused man is being held on a $501,000 bond, which was lowered from $5 million. He faces felony charges for death by motor vehicle as well as counts of DWI, resisting arrest, reckless driving, hit-and-run driving and amphetamine possession.
Careful driving is always important, but difficult weather conditions, such as icy roads, should alert drivers to take extra precautions. The Volvo driver may have needlessly endangered others by behaving inattentively and using intoxicating substances before getting behind the wheel. Law enforcement officials will likely perform blood tests to prove the accused man was impaired, giving the families of the deceased men strong grounds to lodge a wrongful death suit against the negligent driver.
Source: WNCN, “NC man facing several charges in double fatal hit-and-run in Garner”, February 14, 2014