Troopers: 2 killed in wrong-way wreck [NC I485] [DWI]

News 14 Carolina (Time Warner) ^ | Feb 20, 2006 | Glenn Bolin

[TaxRelief]

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Two people died Saturday in an early morning crash on Interstate 485, and troopers say a wrong-way driver is to blame.

The wreck happened near exit 67, close to Interstate 77, at about 12:30 a.m. The Highway Patrol said a Jeep driven by an 18-year-old man was on the westbound side of the highway going the wrong way when it slammed head-on into a silver Nissan Altima.

That car flipped around and burst into flames, killing 23-year-old Eddel Rivera and 22-year-old Richard Bryant, both from Charlotte.

The driver of the Jeep, whose name has not been released, was flown to Carolinas Medical Center in critical condition. Troopers said he was partially ejected from the vehicle and sustained life-threatening injuries. He is expected to recover.

Troopers said they believe alcohol was involved.

"You're taking a very young driver already that was not supposed to be drinking at all; he was, in my professional opinion, already over the (legal blood-alcohol level) limit and decided to get behind the wheel of a car," said Trooper James Pickard. "Whenever he did that he made a very, very destructive decision that affected two families in a very, very bad manner."

The crash is still under investigation. The Highway Patrol's findings will be turned over to the district attorney's office for possible charges.

The names of those involved in the crash have not been released.

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Update: The North Carolina Highway Patrol said 23-year-old Eddel Rivera and her boyfriend, 22-year-old Richard Charles Bryant, died when a driver going the wrong way on Interstate 485 crashed into their car and it burst into flames. Troopers believe the
18-year-old driver, Brock Hunter Franklin, was under the influence.

The Rivera family [who immigrated to the country legally] lives only about a mile from the crash site, which is close to where I-485 meets Interstate 77. ....(more at News 14 Carolina)

[mlc9852]

A couple of weeks ago a similar situation happened in Haywood County in NC (just west of Asheville). An elderly couple (the husband was driving) got on an interstate going the wrong direction and hit another car head on. The elderly couple was killed. The young girl driving the other vehicle was injured and probably scarred for life. She is a friend of my daughter's - they went to high school together. Very sad for all involved.