Wrong-way driver on the run after deadly crash in Johnston County

A person was killed in a deadly hit-and-run on U.S. Highway 70 in Johnston County Sunday morning. The wrong-way driver who caused the crash ran from the scene, and authorities are still searching for the suspect.
Posted 12/15/2024, 2:42:00 PM Updated 12/16/2024, 6:21:52 AM

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MORNING ON WRAL NEWS AT 4.30.

A WOMAN WAS KILLED IN A

WRONG-WAY CRASH IN JOHNSTON

COUNTY OVERNIGHT. 7 ON HIGHWAY

70 NEAR CORNWALLIS ROAD

OVERPASS. 3 OTHERS, INCLUDING

A CHILD WERE SERIOUSLY HURT.

IS THE BUREAU'S CARLY HAYNES

REPORTS. TROOPERS ARE STILL

LOOKING FOR THE SUSPECTS WHO

RAN AWAY FROM THE SCENE.

>> THIS HAPPENED IN THE

EASTBOUND LANES ON HIGHWAY 70.

THAT DRIVER WAS HEADING WEST

INTO THE HEADLIGHTS THAT YOU

SEE RIGHT THERE. AND TONIGHT

THAT SUSPECT STILL HAS NOT BEEN

FOUND. AND HIGHWAY 7.

PIECES OF A CAR LEFT FROM A

DEADLY CRASH HOURS EARLIER.

>> THIS IS THE SAME SPOT JUST

AFTER 03:00AM SUNDAY. 2 CARS

COLLIDED HEAD-ON AFTER A BMW

WENT THE WRONG DIRECTION ON

THE HIGHWAY. IT'S NOW CRUNCH.

JEEP HAD 4 PEOPLE INSIDE THE

FRONT PASSENGER. 24 YEAR-OLD

COURTNEY AFGHANS DIED ON THEIR

WAY TO THE HOSPITAL. THE JEEP

DRIVER, SYDNEY SCOUTING AND 2

PASSENGERS IN THE BACKSEAT.

25 YEAR-OLD MICHAEL ATKINS AND

A BOY UNDER 5 YEARS OLD WERE

SERIOUSLY HURT.

ONE DRIVER BARELY MISSED THE

CRASH AND SAW A CAR CATCH FIRE

>> TROOPER SAID THE WRONG WAY.

DRIVER RAN AWAY AFTER THE

CRASH. LAW ENFORCEMENT SEARCHED

WITH A CANINE BUT COULDN'T FIND

THEM. 2 TOTAL OF CARS. A

SUSPECT STILL ON THE RUN AND

LIVES CHANGED FOREVER.

>> PART OF HIGHWAY 70 WAS

CLOSED DOWN WHILE THIS SEARCH

WAS UNDERWAY. TROOPERS DO

EXPECT THIS PERSON TO GET

CHARGES ONCE THEY ARE FOUND.

TROOPERS ARE STILL

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