On a rainy stretch of Interstate 87 in Wake County, a high-speed crash left one person dead and a 33-year-old driver now facing a slate of serious charges, court records show. Troopers say wet conditions, speed and vehicle problems all factored into the wreck.
Wimandre Anton Hendricks, 33, is accused of involuntary manslaughter, reckless driving to endanger and several vehicle-related infractions, according to court filings. A warrant from the North Carolina State Highway Patrol also lists counts for driving without a valid operator's license, operating with unsafe tires, no inspection and an expired registration tag. Court records show a $250,000 secured bond and a first appearance scheduled for Monday afternoon, as reported by CBS17.
What troopers allege
In the warrant, troopers say Hendricks was "driving at a high rate of speed in the rain without a driver's license or safe tires" when his vehicle slammed into another car on I-87 and killed Dante Moliek Barnes. The document points to multiple traffic and equipment violations that investigators say contributed to the deadly crash, according to CBS17.
What the charges mean
The involuntary manslaughter accusation is a felony-level homicide allegation that would move through North Carolina's structured-sentencing system if prosecutors pursue a formal charge. The secured bond listed in court records keeps the case in Wake County courts while prosecutors review the file and decide on next steps. For more on how involuntary manslaughter is classified under state law, see North Carolina Courts.
Local context
Speeding and poor vehicle maintenance remain familiar culprits in deadly crashes across the Triangle, and the state's traffic-safety officials have stepped up targeted enforcement in response. The N.C. Governor's Highway Safety Program planning calendar outlines efforts such as "Operation Crash Reduction" and seasonal speeding campaigns aimed at cutting down on fatal wrecks; see the N.C. Governor's Highway Safety Program.
Investigators have not said whether impairment is suspected, and state troopers have not released additional details about the crash. Authorities are asking anyone with information to contact the State Highway Patrol or Wake County law-enforcement offices.
