Editor's note: The Durham Police Department originally said three people died in this crash but later issued a correction, clarifying that two people were killed and another four people are in the hospital – one with life-threatening injuries.
Two people are dead and another four people are in the hospital after a deadly crash on North Roxboro Street in Durham.
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Shortly after 2 a.m., Durham Police responded to a single vehicle crash in the 1200 block of North Roxboro Street. When officers arrived, they found an overturned vehicle with multiple people injured.
“I heard the squeal of the wheels and a loud crash,” said Tampa resident Dave Felman, who’s staying in a rental home nearby. “I kept looking, and the police arrived, and the ambulances, and they were scrambling around. There were probably 12 to 15 vehicles out here.”
A preliminary investigation shows a 2014 Ford Fiesta operated by Jose Luis Berrioa, 20, of Durham, was traveling north on Roxboro Street when it lost control and ran off the road, crashing into a tree before overturning. Berrioa and one of his passengers, Oscar Meza, 20, of Durham, were killed in the collision. They were both pronounced dead at the scene.
Four other people in the car were transported to a local hospital – one of them has life-threatening injuries, according to police.
Authorities said speed appears to be a factor in this crash. This remains an active investigation.
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“This is frequent,” Tim Washburn said.
He found car parts and a shattered windshield leftover from the crash in his backyard Friday afternoon.
“What do I do? I don't know what to do,” Washburn told WRAL.
He said he has found debris from other crashes on his property before. WRAL has also covered the issues in the area.
The City of Durham's Transportation Department has studied the feasibility of converting Roxboro and Mangum streets to two-way roads. Data shows that could slow down drivers.
The city is moving forward with the design phase of converting the one-way roads into two-way roads. However, the state’s transportation department told WRAL it has not given the green light to convert the road yet.
Anyone with information regarding this crash is asked to contact Investigator Colquitt at 919-560-4935 ext. 29450.