Potomania

Tammy Duke

2010-05-30T22:00:00.002-04:00

Roxboro - Robert Franklin Gentry drove a ski boat into the back of a pontoon boat, killing Tammy Duke. The ski boat went through the pontoon and struck Duke and knocked her into the water. Gentry left the scene and turned himself in to authorities about four hours later, according to the Wildlife Resources Commission. He submitted to an alcohol test. He was charged with boating while impaired, careless and reckless boat operation resulting in the death of a person and failure to render assistance and submit identification at a boat accident.

John Michael Sullivan

2010-03-13T01:30:00.002-05:00

Raleigh - A car driven by Manuela Mantanona Gomez, 27 rammed into the rear end of a car stopped at a red light on Six Forks & Sawmill Roads. John Sullivan, 24, of Charlotte died after he was trapped in the back seat of the car that was hit, police said. Gomez was injured and taken to an area hospital. Two others, Daniel Joseph Pappert, 25, and Daniel Tyler Kleckner, 24, both of Raleigh were in the car with Sullivan were also hurt in the wreck, but not critically.

Richard Ray Winders

2009-12-06T03:45:00.001-05:00

Angier — Richard Ray Winders, 23, died after the vehicle he was driving struck a tree and caught fire south of Angier. Winders crossed the center line to pass a vehicle and when he came back into the eastbound lane, his vehicle ran off the road and struck a guard rail and a tree. His vehicle caught on fire. Alcohol was a factor in the wreck.

Elena Bright Shapiro

2009-09-11T23:30:00.001-04:00

Raleigh — Raymond Dwight Cook, 40, of 10516 Beckridge Lane in Raleigh, faces death by motor vehicle, driving while impaired, failure to reduce speed and careless and reckless driving in connection with the Friday wreck at Lead Mine and Strickland roads. Raleigh police said he was driving a car at a speed of 90 mph in a 45 mph zone when he crashed into the back of a Hyundai driven by Elena Bright Shapiro, 20, of Winston-Salem. Shapiro, who died at WakeMed, was in the area training with the Carolina Ballet.

Matthew Lyle Achterman

2009-09-09T11:46:00.002-04:00

Wake Forest — State troopers charged Christopher Philip May, 21, with driving while impaired after a two-car wreck early Saturday that killed one man and injured two others. May was driving a 2008 black Honda Civic east on Ligon Mill Road near Greenville Loop when he drifted into the oncoming lane and collided with another car. Matthew Lyle Achterman, 23, a passenger in May's car, was killed. Troopers said Achterman, who was sitting in the back seat, was not wearing his seat belt and was ejected from the car in the collision. May, of 3616 Coach Lantern Avenue, was charged with driving while impaired, driving left of center and felony death by motor vehicle.

John Edward Ogburn

2009-08-29T11:39:00.000-04:00

Raleigh — Raleigh police filed second-degree murder charges Wednesday against Cory Lamar Henderson, a 33-year-old Louisburg man in connection with a fatal wreck on Old Wake Forest Road last Saturday. Police said that Henderson tried to pass John Edward "Eddie" Ogburn, 28, who was in a turning lane to go left from Old Wake Forest Road onto Zachary Brook Lane, where he lived. Henderson, of 1560 Ferrells Bridge Road, was initially charged with driving while impaired and felony death by vehicle, among other offenses. He also faces felony charges for injuries suffered by Obgurn's two passengers. Prosecutors said charges can be upgraded in cases of drunk-driving deaths when aggravating factors are present.

Charles Poe Jr. | Lenwood Whitley

2009-04-18T13:50:00.000-04:00

Goldsboro — Two motorcyclists, Charles Poe Jr., 59, of Greenville, and Lenwood Whitley, 57, of Chocowinity were killed when a truck, driven by Billy Joe Fowler, 32, crossed the center line on US-13 near Hood Swamp Road and struck five of six motorcyclists in the other lane. The three others were seriously injured. Troopers charged Fowler with driving while impaired, two counts of felony death by a motor vehicle, one count of felony serious injury and reckless driving.

Mark Anthony Vaughn

2009-03-10T00:00:00.000-04:00

Durham - State Highway Patrol charged Teresa Vaughn, 49, with felony death by vehicle, driving while impaired, with a revoked license and reckless driving, in a wreck that killed her husband Mark. Teresa was driving on 751 near Kerley Rd when her car ran off the right side. After over-correcting the car went off the left side into a ditch and overturned. Teresa was thrown from the car, and Mark was partially ejected from the seat in the rear. They were not wearing a seat belts.

Minnie Lee Wade

2008-12-27T15:50:00.001-05:00

Raleigh — Linda Ratliff, of Durham, was charged with involuntary manslaughter and driving while impaired after a fatal wreck in north Raleigh Saturday. Linda was driving a minivan and turned in front of a VW driven by Suzanne Pratt of Raleigh. Pratt's mother-in-law Minnie Lee Wade, 82, of Michigan, was killed.

Shannon Nicole Adkins

2008-11-10T09:41:00.004-05:00

ARCHER LODGE — SHP says alcohol was a factor in the collision of two pickup trucks on Buffalo Road that killed Shannon Nicole Adkins, 18, a Clayton High School graduate very close to her home. Desiree Olsen, 29, also of Clayton, was driving the other pickup and had to be transported to WakeMed. She is listed in fair condition. Olsen has been charged with driving while impaired. Adkins graduated from Clayton High School this year and was pursuing a criminal justice major at Wayne County Community College in Goldsboro.

Guillermo Zintzun Jimenez | Dagoberto Zintzun Jimenez | Santiago Pascual Tellez

2008-05-25T04:30:00.007-04:00

Raleigh - Guillermo Zintzun Jimenez, 26, Dagoberto Zintzun Jimenez, 21, and Santiago Pascual Tellez, 14, were killed about 4:30am in a head-on collision on the I-440 Beltline. A van driven by Francisco Javier Martinez, 30, was heading the wrong way on the Inner Beltline collided head-onwith a Lexus sedan driven by Guillermo Jimenez near the on-ramp from Capital Boulevard. Dagoberto and Santiago were not wearing seat belts. Francisco of 1925 Village Squire Circle in Raleigh, was listed in good condition at WakeMed. Franscisco was charged with three counts offelony death by motor vehicle, two counts of felony serious injury by motor vehicle, driving while impaired, driving the wrong direction and no operator's license when released. Police reports indicate Guillermo had not been drinking before the wreck. Two other occupants of the Lexus, JoseCanuto Canuto, 24, and Louis Alberto Canuto, 22, were injured in the wreck. Jose was listed in good condition and Louis was treated and released. Those two were wearing seat belts.

Joseph Michael Ellis

2008-04-27T03:30:00.001-04:00

Clayton - Joseph Michael Ellis, 21, of Raleigh, was driving a Jeep Wrangler around 3:30am. Joseph ran off the right side of the road, over-corrected, crossed the center line and went off the left side of the road. The Jeep struck a mailbox, and Ellis again over-corrected, causing the Jeep to overturn. He was killed in the wreck. His passenger, was taken to WakeMed. Alcohol was a factor in the wreck, troopers said. He and his passenger attended the Triangle Beach Music Festival in Garner earlier Saturday.

Nancy Antoine Leidy

2008-04-21T08:19:00.002-04:00

Raleigh - Brian Anthony Reid, 21, a junior at North Carolina State faces a felony death by motor vehicle charge in connection with a fatal accident involving a bicyclist. Nancy Antoine Leidy, 60, was struck by a Ford F-150 pickup truck and died 2 days later. Brian also received one count each of driving while impaired and failure to reduce speed. Brian registered a .12 in an alcohol breath test. Brian had been celebrating his 21st birthday.

Marcus Lassiter

2008-04-13T18:35:00.000-04:00

Four Oaks — Marcus Lassiter, a 7-year-old boy, was struck by a stolen 95 Chevy Camaro being driven by Hipolito Hernandez, 30, of Four Oaks. Immigration officials later confirmed Hipolito was in the country illegally. Hipolito is charged with second-degree murder, felony hit-and-run, felony assault, driving while intoxicated, possession of a stolen vehicle, driving without a license, speeding and reckless driving in the death of the child. Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokesman Richard Rocha said Friday that Hipolito would be remanded to ICE custody after his state charges are settled. Marcus was trying to cross the road, near his grandma's house, when Hipolito struck him. Troopers reported the cars was traveling more than 25mph over the speed limit. A helicopter rushed Marcus to Duke University Hospital in Durham, alas doctors declared Marcus brain dead and he was taken off life support Monday evening.

Ruben Dario Medina | Jefferson Medina

2008-04-01T15:00:00.000-04:00

Raleigh — Wake County deputies arrested Christine Haithcock Meyers of Raleigh. Christine is a prime suspect in a collision that killed Ruben Dario Medina, 34, and Jefferson Medina, 10. Christine had her legs injured and authorities arrested her at the hospital. She has been charged with driving while impaired, two counts of second-degree murder, assault with a deadly weapon, violation of an open-container law and driving without insurance. A family friend and Ruben Medina's 4-year-old daughter were injured in the wreck.

Matthew Paul Kraft

2008-03-03T18:24:00.003-05:00

Raleigh, NC - Kenya Teveris Alston, 31, of 237 Big Oak St., was eluding an officer early Saturday when he hit another car and killed 21 year old, Matthew Paul Kraft. Kenya is charged with second-degree murder, assault with a deadly weapon and felony hit and run. Matthew was waiting to turn left on Proctor Road about 2 a.m. when Alston lost control and collided into the driver-side door of Matthew's car. Matthew died at WakeMed the next day. His girlfriend and passenger, Michelle Lauren Dixon, was with Matthew but wasn't seriously injured. Kenya had been pulled over earlier for a traffic violation and was trying to elude police. Kenya also tried to run from the scene of the accident, but police caught up with him. He was initially charged with DWI and speeding and eluding arrest. He was out of jail on a $30,000 bond before he surrendered to police.

Che Skaggs

2008-02-11T17:30:00.001-05:00

Mebane, NC — Scott Belling is facing charges of DWI and felony death-by-vehicle after hitting an Orange County teenager. Che Skaggs was at least 10 feet off the road when he was struck and killed Saturday afternoon at 4503 Claibornes Road near Mebane. Highway Patrol reported Scott Belling, the driver, had a confirmed blood alcohol of .23, almost three times the legal threshold of .08 for driving while impaired. Friends and staff at the Orange High School remembered Skaggs on Monday. He was a sophomore. Belling was charged Saturday with DWI and felony hit-and-run. His was later charged with felony death-by-vehicle and is being held in the Orange County Jail. His bond was raised from $20,000 to $70,000 when the death-by-vehicle charge was added.

Jesus Hernandez

2007-11-17T23:00:00.000-05:00

Raleigh — Jesus Hernandez, 31, of Raleigh, a pedestrian died after being hit by a Saturn driven by Veronica Romera, 27, of Raleigh, at 4206 Wake Forest Road. Jesus, of Raleigh, was crossing the road when he was struck. He was pronounced dead at the scene, officials said. Police believe that Hernandez had been drinking, but are awaiting the results of toxicology tests.

Jesus Gonzales Garcia

2007-08-26T11:17:00.000-04:00

Raleigh — Jason Daniel Oliver was drunk and speeding when his car struck Jesus Gonzales Garcia and Walter Rodriguez Garcia at a Raleigh bus stop at the intersection of Buck Jones Road and Bashford Road. Both of the Garcia men were thrown 70 feet and landed in the road near a convenience store. Jason Oliver did not slow down before hitting them. Raleigh police filed charges of second-degree murder and DWI against Jason Oliver of Durham. Jesus Garcia was killed and Walter Garcia was critically injured. Jason Oliver also faces charges of felony aggravated assault, driving with a revoked license, consuming alcohol while driving and having an open container of alcohol in his car. Jason Oliver had a previous DWI and had his license revoked in October of 2002. He was fined $300, given 18 month probation and was sentenced to 91 days in jail. He was driving on a revoked license in April 1999 and operating a motor vehicle without a license in April 1995. Jason Oliver had 23 charges filed against him since April of 1995, mostly in Durham and Vance and Craven counties. Jason Oliver will be transported to the Wake County Jail when he is released from WakeMed.

Randy Glenn Stanley

2007-07-04T01:00:00.000-04:00

A sport utility vehicle was speeding on Elevation Road between Benson and Four Oaks in Johnston County. Ronald Allen, the driver, lost control in a curve, went off the right side, hit an embankment and overturned. Both the driver and the passenger were ejected from the SUV. Ronald's cousin Randy Glenn Stanley, of Four Oaks, was killed. Ronald was in serious condition.

George Alwyin Smith

2007-06-04T07:15:00.000-04:00

Raleigh — A Chevrolet Tahoe, traveling east on I-40 drove across the median into westbound traffic and collided with a Kia Optima then a Ford Mustang. George Alwyin Smith, 54, of Cary, was driving the Optima and was killed. Carolyn Hageman, 35, of Apex was driving the Mustang and suffered minor injuries. George was on his way to work as a computer programmer at Duke University. He was an avid gardener with an infectious laugh and a caring nature. Highway Patrol reported tire ruts in the median show the Tahoe was going so fast that the driver lost control and the vehicle slid sideways into the oncoming traffic. Michael Caldera De Latorre, 24, was driving the Tahoe and smelled of alcohol. De Latorre had an NCDL with his photo, but the name was fictitious. Federal immigration officers are investigating the status. Troopers charged De Latorre with DWI, felony death by motor vehicle, two counts of assault with a deadly weapon, no operator’s license and careless and reckless driving. A passenger in the Tahoe, Roberto Castaneda, 18, was taken to the hospital with minor injuries.

Jorge Perez San Juan | Cresencio Torentino | Carlos Alejandro Lopez

2007-05-13T03:30:00.000-04:00

Raleigh — Three people died early Sunday and a fourth was hurt when a car ran off North New Hope Road at the corner of Fawn Glen Drive in Raleigh. Police said the car was traveling at "a high rate of speed". The driver and two of three passengers in the car were dead at the scene after the car struck the curb on North New Hope, skidded, struck a decorative wall at the entrance to the Brookstone subdivision and rolled over, throwing out the two back-seat passengers.

The dead men are the driver, Jorge Perez San Juan, 23, of Garner; Cresencio Torentino, 23, whose address was unknown, and Carlos Alejandro Lopez, 23 of Raleigh. Torentino and Lopez were riding in the back seat of the sedan and were thrown from the car when it rolled over. Melesio Tolentino Vargara, who was riding in the front passenger seat and was wearing a seat belt survived. San Juan did not have a driver's license, police said in their report. Officers investigating the crash said there were 100-foot skid marks before the car hit the wall and that it traveled about 50 feet after crashing.

Sadiki Young

2007-03-09T09:06:00.000-05:00

Raleigh — 5 Wakefield High School students and an adult were charged Friday in connection with an alcohol-related crash that killed a Wakefield student two months ago. Sadiki Young, 18, died Jan. 13 when the car in which he was riding went off Wakefield Plantation Drive and tumbled down an embankment. Christopher John Palmeiri, 18, of High Holly Lane, is charged with involuntary manslaughter and drunken driving.
His blood-alcohol was .06. The car was doing about 70 when it happened. Palmieri, Young and one other student were at a house party before the wreck.
Others charged were:
Sharra McNamara, 25, of Newton Road, permitting someone to use her license.
Dylan Caldwell, 17, of 6604 Professor Court, no operator's license and restrict, delay and obstruction.
Lisa Conicelli, 17, of Wakefalls Drive in Wake Forest, underage possession of alcohol, aiding and abetting underage possession of alcohol and restrict, delay and obstruction.
Dylan Richard, 18, Falls River Ave., underage purchase of alcohol and aiding and abetting.
Jordan Birden, 17, of Honeychurch St., underage purchase of alcohol and aiding and abetting.
Megan Clifford aiding and abetting and using a fake identification.

Bill Young, Richard's lawyer, downplayed the misdemeanor charges. "These are very minor charges related simply to kids giving kids beer, which unfortunately, right or wrong, if you believe it should happen or not, happens every day".

The deaths have galvanized Wakefield High administrators and parents, who have held alcohol-education programs to raise awareness among students about the dangers of underage drinking and drinking and driving.

Bradley Paul Graves

2007-03-01T00:45:00.000-05:00

FAYETTEVILLE - Police charged a man with drunken driving after an SUV drove the wrong way on Interstate 95 for 20 miles before causing a tractor trailer to wreck.

Bradley Paul Graves, 37, of Lumber Bridge, also was charged with driving the wrong way after the accident that happened at 12:45 a.m. Thursday. Graves was listed in fair condition at Cape Fear Valley Medical Center.

The wreck closed the southbound lanes of the interstate until 1 p.m., said Highway Patrol Sgt. Joel Siles. A hazardous materials team was called to clean up the site and traffic was diverted onto nearby roads around the accident scene.

The tractor trailer overturned across the highway while trying to avoid the oncoming vehicle. The truck was loaded with 6,000 gallons of a flammable chemical that Siles said is used in making deodorant.

Another car wrecked when the truck swerved into it.

Apex Rescue Building

2007-02-02T23:00:00.000-05:00

Apex — One person was injured when a vehicle crashed into the Apex Rescue Squad building late Saturday evening. According to Apex emergency personnel, the incident occurred about 11:00pm. The driver of the vehicle, Kyle David Evans, of Apex, was taken to an area hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Evans was charged with DWI and damage to property, police said. No one inside the building was injured.

Meg Hughes | Jennifer Carter | Ben Leonard

2006-10-30T21:15:00.000-05:00

SANFORD, N.C. -- A judge on Monday questioned whether the bond should be raised for a man charged with killing three people in a drunken-driving accident Friday.

Pastor Rios Sanchez, 55, of Sanford, remains in the Lee County Jail on a $75,000 bond. He is charged with three counts of involuntary manslaughter, driving while intoxicated and having an open container of alcohol in his car.

Meg Hughes, 22, of Summerville, S.C., Jennifer Carter, 18, of Jacksonville, N.C., both students at North Carolina State University, and Hughes' stepbrother, 16-year-old Ben Leonard, were returning to Raleigh from Lee County Friday evening when a 1999 Dodge Intrepid crossed the center line on N.C. Highway 42 about five miles east of Sanford, authorities said.

The Intrepid collided head-on with Hughes' 1990 Toyota Corolla station wagon, killing Hughes and Carter instantly. Leonard died during surgery at Central Carolina Hospital, authorities said.

Last year, Sanchez pleaded guilty to driving without a license.

Alfred Hill

2006-09-20T05:30:00.000-04:00

Police believe a fatal accident in Fayetteville may have been caused by a drunken driver.

The accident happened at around 5:30 a.m. on Skibo Road and McPherson Church Road.
Police said a vehicle driven by 26-year-old Cleo Joyner, of Thelbert Drive, struck a PT Cruiser driven by 34-year-old Alfred Hill, of Sawtooth Lane. Hill was pronounced dead at the scene.

Authorities said Joyner and the passenger in his car, 20-year-old Dimitri Summers, fled from the scene. Officers apprehended them a short time later.

Investigators said Joyner's vehicle ran a red light, causing the accident. Joyner has been charged with driving while intoxicated and a stoplight violation.

Deputy Matthew Sasser's Patrol Car

2006-09-13T11:08:00.000-04:00

A Wayne County sheriff's deputy has been fired following his arrest for driving while impaired after crashing his patrol car into a guardrail in Johnston County.

Sheriff Carey Aaron Winders says Deputy Matthew Sasser was fired shortly after the accident yesterday morning. Sasser's blood-alcohol level was reported to be point-oh-eight, the level at which drivers are considered to be impaired under state law.

The state Highway Patrol says after Sasser's car was wrecked, Johnston County sheriff's deputies found him sitting on a porch down the road. The patrol says he had been hanging out at the house with a friend who's a state trooper and who's being questioned about his role in the accident.

Winders says Sasser had permission to drive his patrol car home but not to cross county lines unless he's assisting other law enforcement officers.

1825 Martin Pond Road

2006-07-15T01:35:00.000-04:00

A Wake County house in Wendell is in need of repair after a car plowed into it early Sunday morning.

At about 1:35 a.m., according to the North Carolina Highway Patrol, Brice Dwayne Pearce, 20, of Raleigh, ran off the road and flipped several times before crashing into the bedroom of a house.

Investigators said Pearce told them he was traveling at about 90 mph around a curve, where the posted speed limit was 35 mph. After the crash, he got out of his car and walked down the street to a friend's house, where a Wake County Sheriff's deputy later found him, authorities said.

No one inside the house was injured, but the house's occupant said she had a rude awakening. Investigators said they believe alcohol was a factor in the accident. Pearce was charged with driving while impaired, careless and reckless driving, hit-and-run and provisional licensee (for driving under the influence under the age of 21).

Pearce was taken to WakeMed to be treated for minor injuries and was later released.

Teen Drinking Takes Toll On Brain

2006-07-05T18:00:00.000-04:00

(CBS)Teens and alcohol can be a deadly combination. But CBS News correspondent Elizabeth Kaledin reports that a new study shows that teens who indulge in binge drinking may be paying a heavy price.

"I think teenagers view alcohol — and I certainly did — as something that's very glamorous," says Toren Volkmann. The 26-year-old is now a recovering alcoholic — and he realizes there was nothing glamorous about it.

In fact, a mounting body of scientific evidence is showing that young drinkers like Volkmann may be damaging their brains.

"Heavy drinking during the teen years can exact a toll long that lasts long after the buzz wears off," says Dr. Aaron White of the Duke University Medical Center.

Researchers like White say studies now confirm that the delicate, developing teenage brain is much more susceptible than the adult brain to the toxic effects of alcohol.

"The brain is developing during adolescence," White says. "Whenever a brain is developing, it's vulnerable to the disruptive effects of alcohol. Pregnant women don't drink for that reason."

Studies show that disruption causes problems with important cognitive skills like attention, learning and memory.

"Adolescence is the most important period of life for learning," White says. "It's not the time you want to be blocking the ability of the brain to change with experience — and that's exactly what alcohol does."

Volkmann admits his memory is not very sharp. But he was thinking clearly enough to sit down with his mother and write a book together about his experience as a teenage drinker. He hopes his story will be the ultimate cautionary tale to any teenager who thinks drinking is just harmless good fun.

"I think the average family does not understand the true realities of addiction and the propensity for anyone to become addicted," he says. "It starts at a young age. That's definitely what definitely caught us off guard."

There is one bright side to this story. Teenage brains may be more easily damaged by alcohol, but they are also easier to repair — so if the problem is caught early enough, researchers say, there can be recovery, and the damage may not be permanent.

©MMVI, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved

Gregory Barnes | Alicia Fuentez

2006-05-13T09:00:00.000-04:00

Police say Gregory Barnes was driving drunk in Fayetteville around midnight Thursday when he rear-ended a pick-up truck.

Four people were in the truck. One, passenger Alicia Fuentez, mother of six, was killed. The other three, including a 2-year-old girl, are hosptialized, and are recovering.

Fuentez came to town to visit relatives. They picked her up from the Fayetteville bus station and headed home. They were on Bragg Boulevard when the accident happened.

Marc Bathrick | Kelly Brown

2006-05-07T09:00:00.000-04:00

Authorities said speeding and alcohol were factors in a Saturday-evening accident that killed two people.

The North Carolina Highway Patrol said Marc Bathrick, 21, of Cary, was driving a Pontiac Grand Prix when he lost control of the vehicle and hit a tree near the intersection of Castleberry and Wimberly roads in Apex.

Bathrick, a former student at Apex High School, was killed along with his 16-year-old girlfriend, Kelly Brown, who was a current student at Apex High.

According to the Highway Patrol, Bathrick was traveling at least 70 mph in a 55 mph zone and a strong odor of alcohol was detected at the accident scene.

Jake Wood | Andrew Leonard

2006-04-18T09:00:00.000-04:00

Wake County sheriff's investigators want to know more about a party where two young men may have been drinking before they got into a car and were involved in an accident that left one of them dead.

On Sunday, authorities charged Jake Wood, 18, of Apex, with felony death by motor vehicle after the car he was driving veered off of the Green Level Church Road in Apex and flipped in the air several times.

The passenger in the vehicle, Andrew Hunter Leonard, 19, of Apex was ejected from the vehicle and later died at WakeMed Hospital. Authorities do not think Leonard was wearing his seatbelt.

Wood told news reporters Sunday that he had gone to pick Leonard up at a party and that once he got there, he stayed for about an hour.

State Highway Patrol troopers said Wood had alcohol in his system at the time of the crash and that he was driving 55 mph in a 45 mph zone. According to authorities, Wood's blood-alcohol level registered .09 at the accident scene, and a second test a few hours later measured his blood-alcohol level at .06.

Baker Wood | Anthony Bostic | Steven George | Timothy Steinberg

2006-03-05T09:00:00.000-05:00

"The (accident) report indicates that the investigators found reason to suspect that alcohol may have been involved," said Raleigh police spokesman Jim Sughrue. "That certainly doesn't confirm that it was, but there was enough reason for them to do some follow-up work."

Police said the car, driven by 18-year-old Baker Wood, was traveling at more than 115 mph when it hit a concrete barrier on an exit ramp where the new U.S. Highway 64 bypass meets the Interstate 440 Beltline. It then careened off a bridge, crashed into the woods and burst into flames.

Wood, Anthony Bostic, 17, Steven George, 18, and Timothy Steinberg, 18, died at the scene. The four teens, all students at Wakefield High School, were returning from a championship high school basketball game in Greenville when the accident occurred.

Terrence McCann

2005-06-21T09:00:00.000-04:00

A High Point University student whose body was found face down in a shallow creek more than a month ago had a blood-alcohol level that was more than twice the legal limit for drivers in North Carolina, according to an autopsy report.

Terrence McCann, 20, of Glenside, Pa., had a blood-alcohol level of 0.2 at the time of his death, the chief medical examiner's office reported. The autopsy and police investigation found no signs of foul play.

McCann was reported missing by his parents May 9, one day after they arrived in High Point to take him home for summer break. McCann's friends told police they had been drinking alcohol the afternoon of May 7 and continued drinking at a bar later that evening.

Police say McCann's friend, Brandon Michael Wright, 21, of Laurel Springs, N.J., bought malt beverages and passed them along to McCann. He has been charged with aiding and abetting giving malt beverages to anyone under 21, a misdemeanor.

McCann's body was found in a creek on May 10. Police believe McCann was headed home when he cut through a steep wooded area and lost his footing before falling into less than 2 inches of water. McCann had several small abrasions on his arms, hands and face, but the scratches were not sufficient to cause death or suggest foul play, according to the autopsy report released Monday.

Latoya Lane

2004-12-15T09:00:00.000-05:00

Investigators say a freshman at Fayetteville State University was drinking and doing drugs before she died.

According to a search warrant, doctors found alcohol and marijuana in Latoya Lane's system. The papers say Lane was visiting friends at University Place apartments.

When they woke up, they found Lane in front of a sofa with her face down. They took her to Cape Fear Valley Medical Center, where she died.

Lane, 18, finished her first semester of college, but didn't live to see her grades. Lane lived in Hope Mills and went to South View High School. After high school, she commuted to college.

Samantha Spady

2004-09-08T09:00:00.000-04:00

The body of Samantha Spady, a sophomore business major from Beatrice, Neb., was found Sunday evening in an empty lounge at the Sigma Pi fraternity by a member giving a tour of the house.

An autopsy revealed that alcohol was a factor in Spady's death, and a published report said that she had a blood alcohol level of 0.43 percent, five times the legal limit for driving in Colorado.

Justin Benoist | Frankie Nicolai III

2004-02-27T09:00:00.000-05:00

A jury ruled Wednesday that a school district was negligent, but not responsible, for the alcohol-poisoning deaths of two 11-year-old boys who skipped class and died after drinking half a gallon of vodka.

Jurors awarded no damages to the parents of Justin Benoist and Frankie Nicolai III, who sued the Ronan School District, alleging officials failed to notify them the boys had left school on Feb. 27, 2004.

Frankie, whose blood-alcohol level was 0.50 percent, died of alcohol poisoning, while Justin died of a combination of alcohol poisoning and hypothermia.

Rolando Sosa

2004-01-02T09:00:00.000-05:00

State troopers said a deadly combination led to Wake County's first highway fatality of 2004.

The crash happened early Thursday morning on Highway 64, near the Neuse River.

According to the state Highway Patrol, Rolando Sosa, 29, ran off the road, slammed into some trees and was thrown to his death.

"Speed, mixed with no seat belt and the impact to a tree -- you're not going to win when you go against a tree, not in a car -- and then alcohol was involved," trooper Brian Lane said.

Troopers said Sosa was going 80 to 100 mph when he lost control and ran off of the highway.

Larry Veeder

2003-11-19T09:00:00.000-05:00

Six Good Samaritans died and two others were injured when they were run over by a van while assisting with an earlier car accident at the intersection of Nowell and Chapel Hill roads in Raleigh. Authorities say Larry Veeder, who was driving the van, had a blood-alcohol level of .18 percent -- more than twice the state legal limit.

Nolan Myers a Campbell University freshman.

Bryan Tutor, 29, of Coats, leaves behind a wife and 5-month-old baby. Tutor went to the N.C. State/Virginia game at Carter-Finley Stadium with his friend,

Dennis Bowes, 28, who also died in the wreck.

Christopher Clemmons, 41, lived down the road from the crash site. Family members say, after the first accident, he went to see if he could help.

Robert and Jean Marie Alfaro, the other two victims, were in town visiting from the Charlotte area.

Simon Santiago

2003-06-30T09:00:00.000-04:00

One person is dead and two others were injured after a pickup truck crashed into a tree on Dillard Drive early Monday.

The state Highway Patrol said speed and alcohol were factors in the crash that happened around 3:20 a.m.

Troopers said Simon Santiago, 24, of Wilkesboro, was behind the wheel of the pickup. Santiago and a passenger are being treated at WakeMed. A man riding in the back of the pickup died at the scene.

The vehicle was first involved in a hit-and-run at Dillard Drive and Jones Franklin Road, then traveled down Dillard Drive before hitting what is known as the curve and slamming into a tree, according to troopers.

Officials believe Santiago had been drinking and was trying to escape the prior crash.

"The vehicle took off and headed this way and was definitely driving too fast to make the curve," said 1st Sgt. James Williams of the N.C. Highway Patrol.

Bryan Taylor | Aaron McLean

2003-03-08T09:00:00.000-05:00

Two Chatham County teenagers were killed Friday night in a single-car accident just north of Pittsboro.

The accident occurred on Old Graham Road just off Highway 87.

Killed in the wreck were the driver, 19-year-old Bryan Taylor, and a passenger, 13-year-old Aaron McLean, both of Pittsboro.

Three others were hurt in the accident. They were taken to UNC Hospitals for treatment.

The Highway Patrol says Taylor's car went out of control, crossed the center line, then ran off the roadway and hit several trees.