Post by pacino2367 on May 20, 2007 15:55:23 GMT -5
By DIANA RUGG / WCNC
E-mail Diana: DRugg@wcnc.com
Two people are dead overnight after another wrong-way wreck on I-485 in south Charlotte. Trooper D.J. Freeman of the North Carolina Highway Patrol says 20-year-old Demario Keonta Perry drove eastbound in the westbound lane at speeds between 90 and 100 mph, while officers tried to stop him and block other cars from entering the interstate. Trooper Freeman says a driver called 911 at 3:10 am to alert police that Perry was going the wrong way on I-485. Cpl. Corey Copley of Pineville Police Department said two officers spotted Perry as he passed Park Road Extension, and were able to block the road and bring him to a stop. But before Pineville officers could even get out of their cars, Trooper Freeman says Perry drove around the officers’ cars and sped off. Cpl. Copley says the officers alerted other agencies by radio that Perry was heading eastbound again in the wrong lane. “They were able to safely put officers in position to get them ready, give them a heads up,” said Cpl. Copley, “about what’s about to come down the road.” Trooper Freeman said Matthews Police officers were able to block entrance ramps at Rea and Johnston Roads, and get their stop sticks ready east of Providence Road. Perry never made it that far. Freeman says a Pineville officer drove alongside Perry in the eastbound lanes, warning other drivers and trying to get Perry to pull over, when Perry crashed into a red Pontiac Vibe. Pineville officers were able to pull Perry from his car before it caught fire, but he was already dead. The Pontiac’s driver also died. The passenger in the Pontiac, 20-year-old Cassandra Marie Lawrence of Charlotte, was airlifted to Carolinas Medical Center. Trooper Freeman waited at the hospital all morning to talk to Lawrence, but he said she never regained consciousness. Freeman said the Highway Patrol is investigating whether alcohol was a factor in the crash, like it is in most wrong-way crashes – including two on that same stretch of road in the last two years. They’re waiting for a medical examiner’s report before determining that. Freeman says no one in either car was wearing a seat belt, but he doesn’t know if that made a difference in this case.
arrestinquiryweb.co.mecklenburg.nc.us/ArrestAndCharges.aspx?FirstName=DEMARIO&MiddleName=K&LastName=PERRY&PID=298329&ArrestNumber=1280242&BrowseLastName=perry&BrowseFirstName=demario&BrowseArrest=&BrowseArrestDate=&BrowseLastDayArrests=
E-mail Diana: DRugg@wcnc.com
Two people are dead overnight after another wrong-way wreck on I-485 in south Charlotte. Trooper D.J. Freeman of the North Carolina Highway Patrol says 20-year-old Demario Keonta Perry drove eastbound in the westbound lane at speeds between 90 and 100 mph, while officers tried to stop him and block other cars from entering the interstate. Trooper Freeman says a driver called 911 at 3:10 am to alert police that Perry was going the wrong way on I-485. Cpl. Corey Copley of Pineville Police Department said two officers spotted Perry as he passed Park Road Extension, and were able to block the road and bring him to a stop. But before Pineville officers could even get out of their cars, Trooper Freeman says Perry drove around the officers’ cars and sped off. Cpl. Copley says the officers alerted other agencies by radio that Perry was heading eastbound again in the wrong lane. “They were able to safely put officers in position to get them ready, give them a heads up,” said Cpl. Copley, “about what’s about to come down the road.” Trooper Freeman said Matthews Police officers were able to block entrance ramps at Rea and Johnston Roads, and get their stop sticks ready east of Providence Road. Perry never made it that far. Freeman says a Pineville officer drove alongside Perry in the eastbound lanes, warning other drivers and trying to get Perry to pull over, when Perry crashed into a red Pontiac Vibe. Pineville officers were able to pull Perry from his car before it caught fire, but he was already dead. The Pontiac’s driver also died. The passenger in the Pontiac, 20-year-old Cassandra Marie Lawrence of Charlotte, was airlifted to Carolinas Medical Center. Trooper Freeman waited at the hospital all morning to talk to Lawrence, but he said she never regained consciousness. Freeman said the Highway Patrol is investigating whether alcohol was a factor in the crash, like it is in most wrong-way crashes – including two on that same stretch of road in the last two years. They’re waiting for a medical examiner’s report before determining that. Freeman says no one in either car was wearing a seat belt, but he doesn’t know if that made a difference in this case.
arrestinquiryweb.co.mecklenburg.nc.us/ArrestAndCharges.aspx?FirstName=DEMARIO&MiddleName=K&LastName=PERRY&PID=298329&ArrestNumber=1280242&BrowseLastName=perry&BrowseFirstName=demario&BrowseArrest=&BrowseArrestDate=&BrowseLastDayArrests=