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Charges brought in fatal crash
Comments 0 | Recommend 0A Wilson County man has been charged with misdemeanor death by vehicle in connection with a two-car crash that killed his passenger on Dec. 11 just west of Havelock.
Javier Rodriguez, 23, of Sims, was driving a Camaro east on U.S. 70 in heavy rain when he lost control, crossed the median and struck a Pontiac Grand Prix going west.
The crash killed Jason Etheridge, 20, of Sims, who was riding with Rodriguez.
Rodriguez was initially charged with driving while impaired, exceeding a safe speed for rainy conditions, driving on unsafe ties and not wearing a seatbelt, according to N.C. Highway Patrol Trooper Scott Casner.
The trooper charged Rodriguez with misdemeanor death by vehicle last week, and Rodriguez turned himself in to the Magistrate’s Office in New Bern on Monday.
The driver of the Grand Prix that Rodriguez hit was Melissa DePriest, a Cherry Point Marine. She suffered a broken leg in the crash.
That wreck happened shortly after 5 p.m. on Dec. 11 on U.S. 70 near Flanners Beach Road.
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