Girl, 12, dies after being struck by truck
By John Joyce
Published in News on August 19, 2012 1:50 AM
A pedestrian who was struck by a drunken driver Thursday along U.S. 70 West near Powell Road, has died.
Heather Weir, 12, of Goldsboro was severely injured after being hit by a Ford F-150 traveling toward Raleigh at about 10 p.m.
According to the Highway Patrol report, Ms. Weir was walking or running in the roadway, but troopers were not certain why.
The child was taken first to Wayne Memorial Hospital and then later flown to Vidant Medical Center in Greenville. She died at 1:49 a.m. Friday
The driver of the pickup truck, James Brooks, 67, of New Bern, was cited by Highway Patrol for DWI and held under a $500 secured bond. Brooks posted bond and was transported home by state troopers.
There is no word on whether he will face charges in the death or whether his condition contributed to the crash.
A recent change to state law makes traffic fatalities related to DWIs eligible to be prosecuted as second-degree murder rather than vehicular manslaughter. Brooks will not appear in court until September, but so far has not been charged with any crime other than drunken driving.