In a tragic incident that has shaken the Holly Springs community, a 16-year-old high school student has been charged with multiple felonies, including second-degree murder, in connection with a crash that occurred in the early hours of October 26. Ashton Henry Rahlfs is accused of driving under the influence and causing a fatal accident that claimed the life of 14-year-old Max Dunham and left 19-year-old Brandon Russell seriously injured. According to WRAL, Rahlfs was driving more than twice the speed limit when he struck Dunham, who was on his bike, and then collided head-on with Russell's car.
Holly Springs Police Chief Paul Liquorie detailed to CBS17 that they were able to determine Rahlfs had been driving recklessly for a significant time before the accident occurred. In the crash's aftermath, video evidence also suggested the presence of alcoholic beverages in Rahlfs' vehicle, corroborating the charges. Police reported that Rahlfs' blood alcohol content was .11, nearly twice the legal limit.
The court documents, as reported by WRAL, reveal a pattern of underage drinking by Rahlfs, some incidents involving a vehicle.
The investigation extended over a two-week period where meticulous documentation of evidence at the crash site, which sprawled over 200 feet, was gathered according to statements obtained by ABC11.
Brandon Russell, the injured driver, has since been recovering and is nearing the time to return home. His family has taken steps to accommodate his physical needs by building a ramp at their residence and are organizing a benefit event to aid with medical expenses. “I would like to thank the public, and in particular the Dunham and Russell families, for their patience as we ensured that this case was thoroughly and accurately investigated,” Chief Liquorie told CBS17. Rahlfs was arrested and is currently being held without bond and is expected to appear in court soon.
The severity of the charges and the circumstances surrounding this case have prompted the police chief to make a plea to the youth. Chief Liquorie hopes that the incident will serve as a painful lesson to deter teenagers from making similar choices. "My hope is that sentencing and this indictment are lessons for the youth in our town and elsewhere, that the choices they make can have dire consequences that cannot simply be fixed or taken back and will impact themselves and others for the rest of their lives," he said in a statement shared with ABC11.
