Wreck totals Sheriff's Office car Wednesday
By Nick Hiltunen
Published in News on February 12, 2009 1:46 PM
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News-Argus/GREG SOUSA
Two North Carolina State Highway Patrol troopers investigate a two-vehicle accident involving a Wayne County sheriff's cruiser on U.S. 117 North near the intersection of Belfast Road in Belfast on Wednesday afternoon.
A Sheriff's Office patrol car and a Jeep SUV were totaled in a head-on wreck on U.S. 117 on Wednesday afternoon.
No one was severely injured in the crash, although a prisoner in the back Sheriff's car at the time of the crash, Stephanie Ann Smith, 26, of Black Creek Road, Fremont, was taken to Wayne Memorial Hospital as a precaution, authorities on scene said.
Investigating Highway Patrol Troop C trooper J.L. Graham said he had charged David Earl Beasley, 20, of Indian Springs Road near Mount Olive.
The trooper said Beasley pulled the Jeep out onto U.S. 117 Business -- also known as North William Street -- from Belfast Road.
Beasley was charged with failing to yield the right of way to the deputy's vehicle, Graham said.
"He (Beasley) said his intention was to make a left turn on U.S. 117," the trooper said.
The 20-year-old apparently did not see the approaching police cruiser of Ronald Luis Carrasquillo, who lives in Goldsboro, the trooper said.
Carrasquillo was headed eastbound on North William Street and collided with the 20-year-old's SUV.
Both vehicles were totaled, with the Sheriff's Office car seemingly suffering the most damage. The patrol car's hood was crumpled, showing the engine parts.
A Sheriff's Office deputy on scene said Carrasquillo had just put in a work order to get the transmission fixed.