Thread: NC: Driver Charged With DWI in Fatal I-40 Wreck

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/

The victim, Mr. Smith, was on his way to work as a computer programmer at Duke University. This happened at 7:15AM.

Of course, El Pueblo was on tv right after this story saying laws are different in the US than anywhere else. These drunk drivers are also lonely since they're here alone.

WRAL usually allows comments after stories but not for this one.

What! A fake Matricula Consular Card? No way! I thought that was a "secure" form of ID for Mexican citizens. The same people that don't have birth certificates or carry ID in Mexico. How can this be?

It's just another "Not Me", going to prison for a senseless murder. Vehicular Manslaughter to be exact. And another American family affected by another illegal alien named "Not Me".

Ignorance of the law is not a defense and neither is lonely.

Dixie

7am not what you would call a "social drinker"
Is North Carolina still giving out drivers licenses to drunken invaders?

Even one American citizen injured or killed by an illegal alien is ONE TOO MANY. It didn't have to happen nor should it ever.

Please send this to our beloved X Senator Burr !!!! This is becoming a daily to weekly occurrence in North Carolina.

Believe me, I would rather pay 10 cents more for a head of lettuce than to see someone I know murdered by an illegal alien and/or terrorist (no one can tell the difference until they are removed from our population completely).

Did you notice this linked story? Shocked it was reported....

"Hispanics Have Higher Rate of Drunken Driving Crashes"

http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/1468442/

If an illegal kills someone they should be deported. they don't use their real names so how can ICE do a background check on them?

I need to modified my statement. If they killed someone hopefully they are in a state that believes in the death penalty.

Originally Posted by Dianne

Please send this to our beloved X Senator Burr !!!! This is becoming a daily to weekly occurrence in North Carolina.

I'll be sure to include this in my call tomorrow.