Master Trooper Steven J. Perry of the North Carolina State Highway Patrol was killed Sunday when his patrol SUV was struck head-on by a wrong-way driver on the Durham Freeway (N.C. 147) near the Swift Avenue exit. The other driver also died, and a long stretch of the freeway had to be shut down while first responders and investigators worked the crash site.
Crash details from authorities
According to the North Carolina State Highway Patrol, Perry was on duty when a vehicle going the wrong way on N.C. 147 slammed into his patrol unit near Swift Avenue. The other driver was pronounced dead as well, WRAL reported. Troopers have not yet said how the wrong-way vehicle got onto the freeway or whether impairment or potential charges are factors in the case.
Colleagues and community remember Perry
The Highway Patrol noted that Perry graduated from the 148th Basic Patrol School and had spent nearly seven years assigned to Durham County, a detail highlighted in local coverage and in an Eyewitness News segment. Video from the March 1 broadcast shows the agency’s announcement and captures fellow troopers and state leaders offering condolences to his family and to the broader Patrol community, as seen on ABC11/WTVD.
Traffic impact and scene response
The wreck shut down roughly a two-mile stretch of the Durham Freeway near Swift Avenue, forcing traffic onto detours while crews cleared debris and investigators documented the scene, according to WRAL. Drivers were urged to steer clear of the area until troopers and emergency workers finished their on-scene work.
Investigation underway
State Highway Patrol officials say the crash remains under active investigation, and authorities have not given a timeline for when their findings will be released, according to the Eyewitness News video. The agency typically handles serious crash probes in coordination with local law enforcement and may share more details once next-of-kin notifications and forensic reviews are complete.
The loss lands as another heavy blow for law enforcement in the Triangle. Officials say additional information will be released as families are notified and the investigation moves forward.
