State Highway Patrol arrest driver in hit-and-run crash

The North Carolina State Highway Patrol arrested a man accused of a hit-and-run crash on Saturday in Orange County.

2026-06-17

Troopers arrested 20-year-old Jorge Salvador Vazquez-Castillo in Durham County Wednesday night. They also located the 1999 Chevrolet Tahoe believed to have been used in the crash.

Troopers said the crash happened around 7 p.m. along NC-751 near US-70. Troopers said the Tahoe was driving north on NC-751 while two cyclists were traveling south.

The driver of the Tahoe crossed the center line and crashed into both cyclists before driving away toward Durham, troopers said. Both cyclists were seriously injured.

Troopers said the Tahoe was damaged to the front-left quarter panel and the wheel.

Marc Maximov, of Durham, says he was one of the injured cyclists. He said he and his friend were riding when he saw the oncoming SUV swerve into their lane.

"It was not going back into the lane," Maximov said. "In fact, it seemed to be aiming at us. I don't know that. I don't know what the driver was thinking."

He said police told him they found no skid marks at the scene. 

Maximov believes the SUV's driver's side mirror hit him. He has a broken arm and gash on his leg. Maximov said the SUV directly hit his friend, knocking him unconscious. That friend, whose identity Maximov did not share, still was in intensive care Wednesday night.

"My injuries are minimal," Maximov said.  "All I have is concern for my friend, who is in it a long-haul recovery."

Maximov is a board member of Bike Durham, a non-profit bicyclist advocacy group. He said he relies on cycling for transportation. While Maximov said he does not know why the driver hit them this weekend, he said he often encounters hostility when he's on the bicycle.

"People might recognize the law says that road is available for all users," he said.  "It's not just the law. It should be an understanding that we have. If a bicyclist is on a road, they have the same right to be there as you do."

Vazquez-Castillo was charged with felony hit-and-run involving serious injury, no operator's license, reckless driving and several other charges and infractions.

Troopers said he was booked into the Orange County Detetion Center, where he was held on a $50,000 bond. Vazquez-Castillo's first court appearance was set for 2 p.m. Thursday in the Orange County Courthouse.