Driver Charged With DWI in Fatal I-40 Wreck
Driver Crosses Median, Hits Oncoming Traffic

Posted: Today at 9:00 a.m.
Updated: 17 minutes ago

Raleigh — The driver of an SUV that veered across a highway median and slammed into two cars, killing one person, was charged Monday afternoon with drunken driving, authorities said.

According to the North Carolina State Highway Patrol, a Chevrolet Tahoe traveling east on Interstate 40 at about 7:15 a.m. Monday crossed the median onto westbound I-40 near the Wade Avenue exit, striking a blue Kia. The driver of the Kia, George Alwyin Smith, 54, of Cary, died in the wreck, authorities said.

The Tahoe then crossed a second westbound lane and struck a Ford Mustang driven by Carolyn Hageman, 35, of Apex, authorities said. She was taken to Western Wake Hospital with minor injuries.

According to a Highway Patrol accident reconstruction team, tire ruts left in the median by the Tahoe suggest the vehicle was going so fast that the driver lost control and the vehicle slid sideways into the oncoming traffic.

The driver of the Tahoe was taken to WakeMed, but the extent of his injuries was unknown Monday afternoon. There also was no word on his blood-alcohol content.

"The driver of the Tahoe is a Hispanic male. We believe alcohol was involved, and he had a passenger with him," said Sgt. Margaret Landon of the Highway Patrol.

The man had a North Carolina driver's license with his picture on it, but he told troopers that the name wasn't his.

The passenger in the Tahoe, who was taken to WakeMed with non-life-threatening injuries, had a Mexican identification card with his own picture and the same, apparently fictitious name from the driver's ID, authorities said.

Federal immigration officers are investigating the status of both men, who troopers said left Concord early Monday and were on their way to work.

Troopers have charged the driver of the Tahoe with two counts of assault with a deadly weapon and once count each of felony death by motor vehicle,driving while impaired, reckless driving and having no operator's license.

Westbound traffic on I-40 was detoured throughout the morning onto Wade Avenue, across the ramp back to I-40.

http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/1466958/