Local News

Driver Charged With Manslaughter in I-40 Wreck

Raleigh police charged a 16-year-old male with manslaughter after a woman injured in a wreck on Interstate 40 died in the hospital.

Posted Updated
I40 wreck
RALEIGH, N.C. — Raleigh police on Monday charged a 16-year-old man with manslaughter because a woman injured in a wreck on Interstate 40 died in the hospital.

Elizabeth Arch, 23, of Raleigh, died in WakeMed on Nov. 26. She and Zephrino Duran, 17, of Raleigh, were ejected from a 2003 Ford Explorer that Joel Duran, of Raleigh, was driving on the night of Nov. 24.

Joel Duran was charged with manslaughter in the death of Arch and with assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury for the injuries sustained by Zephrino Duran.

Police also charged Joel Duran of driving without a license. He had not yet been taken into custody, they said.

Joel Duran, 16, was driving on I-40 West between Rock Quarry and Hammond roads around 7:30 p.m. He lost control of the vehicle while changing lanes and managed to pull it back onto the highway, but it then it flipped over.

In their report the night of the accident, police said they suspected Joel Duran of driving while impaired and were awaiting test results.

I-40 West was closed for about three hours until crews cleared the wreckage.

Six people, including Joel Duran, were transported to WakeMed. Police identified the other three as Emma Duran, 12, Joanna Solavo Herrera, 16, and Angelica Varsas, 18.

Police listed Joel and Emma Duran as living at the same address. Zephrino Duran had a different address, and it was not clear if he was related to Joel Duran.

Copyright 2024 by Capitol Broadcasting Company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.