One person was killed after a deputy chase ended in a crash in Durham.
A deputy with the Durham County Sheriff's Office said around 11 p.m. Thursday, two vehicles were street racing near Carpenter Fletcher Road and NC 55. When the deputy attempted to stop the vehicles, one of the drivers immediately turned off its lights and sped away and out of the deputy’s view.
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Deputies said the suspect vehicle, a Ford pickup truck, was found a short time later, involved in a crash with a third, uninvolved vehicle, a Dodge Charger, at the intersection of NC 55 and Riddle Road.
Troopers identified the Ford pickup truck driver as 18-year-old Kevin Alejandro Ruiz Gomez. Officials told WRAL News that Gomez crashed into the Charger after running the traffic light.
The driver of the Dodge died on the scene, and their passenger was taken to a nearby hospital and treated for their injuries, deputies said.
Gomez was also taken to a nearby hospital for his injuries and then taken into custody. He is due in court on Monday.
Gomez is charged with:
- Assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury
- Flee to elude arrest with a motor vehicle
- Misdemeanor death by vehicle
- Speed competition
- Failure to heed lights or siren
- Reckless driving - wanton disregard
- Driving while license revoked - not impaired
- Driving left of center
- Failure to burn headlamps
- Failure to stop for a steady red light
The WRAL Breaking News Tracker captured video of the aftermath. Traffic lights on NC 55 and Riddle Road are damaged, some in pieces hitting the ground. The truck and car were destroyed, tangled in utility wires.
WRAL's Sky 5 flew over the scene as crews worked to repair the downed power lines.