Tragedy struck early yesterday morning on Interstate 40 in Raleigh as two drivers were killed in a head-on collision caused by a wrong-way driver. The incident occurred near Gorman Street, Exit 295, and was reported shortly before 4 a.m., according to CBS 17. Both eastbound and westbound lanes were affected by the crash, leading to extensive traffic delays.
The victims have been identified as 27-year-old Jonathan Perry Jr. and 37-year-old Alaina Mathews. Investigations by the Raleigh Police Department revealed that Perry, in a 2006 Lexus IS250, traveled westbound in the eastbound lanes after turning right from Gorman Street onto the I-40 ramp incorrectly. Perry's vehicle then collided with Mathews' eastbound 2024 Volkswagen Taos. Despite attempts to swerve and avoid the impact, the crash proved fatal for both parties, as reported by WRAL.
Adding to the sorrow of the situation, police indicated that alcohol may have played a role. The odors of alcohol exuding from Perry and an open container discovered at his feet inside his car led to these suspicions. However, final test results from the Wake County Bureau of Forensic Services are still pending to confirm this potential contributing factor. The thoroughfare, a lifeline for many commuters, was entirely blocked for several hours, reopening by 10 a.m. after the investigative and clean-up efforts concluded, as stated by ABC 11.
Compounding the morning's fatalities, a separate incident occurred on Gorman Street involving an e-scooter. Pierre-Louis de Mourgues, a 23-year-old man, was hit from behind by a vehicle while operating his RCB e-scooter, dragged down the roadway, and succumbed to his injuries at the scene. The driver behind the wheel fled without stopping.
