Two North Carolina drivers charged with DWI in fatal U.S. 64 wreck
A 20-year-old Durham, North Carolina woman is facing a provisional DWI charge, and a 33-year-old Knightdale, North Carolina man was arrested on suspicion of DWI, after the two were involved in a three-car accident near the Wake-Franklin county line early Sunday. Law enforcement says that the young woman ran out of gas on U.S. 64. She reportedly pulled over, but authorities claim that she left part of her Honda sticking out into the traffic lane when she came to a stop.
Around 3:30 a.m., law enforcement says that an Altima approached and crashed into the stalled car. Both cars spun, leaving the Altima stopped sideways in the opposing traffic lane. A second Nissan broadsided the Altima, ejecting the driver of the Altima from his car. The Altima reportedly burst into flames.
The 23-year-old Sanford, North Carolina man who was driving the Altima was killed in the traffic accident. Five other people from the two other cars suffered injuries in the wreck.
Law enforcement reportedly investigated the drivers of the Honda and the second Nissan involved in the accident for evidence of alcohol impairment. Authorities say the 20-year-old woman who had allegedly run out of gas measured a 0.05 percent alcohol level.
As this blog has previous discussed, North Carolina law allows authorities to bring underage DWI, also known as provisional license DWI charges, against a person under the age of 21 based upon any evidence of alcohol consumption.
The man accused of driving the second Nissan involved in the crash was also tested for alcohol, but authorities say that the results of his alcohol test remain pending.
Source: News Observer, “Two charged with DWI in fatal wreck,” Thomasi McDonald, Aug.14, 2012