Man accused of DWI in wrong-way crash that killed 80-year-old woman in Winston-Salem was in US illegally

Martinez Lemus, 28, faces charges in connection to the death of Jean Lawrence High.

At about 10:40 p.m. on June 15, police received reports of a vehicle traveling northbound in the southbound lanes of Highway 52.

Police add an officer, with an unrelated arrestee in his vehicle, was nearly struck by the vehicle while traveling southbound on the highway.

The vehicle, a 2004 Nissan driven by Lemus, then hit a 2012 Toyota which had three people inside.

The driver of the Toyota, 56-year-old David Leonard Stafford, and two passengers, Jean High and Jeri High Stafford were all injured in the crash.

In addition, Martinez Lemus was taken to Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center with serious injuries. Police say he was impaired when the crash happened.

With High's death, police have upgraded charges against Martinez Lemus and he is now charged with felony death by motor vehicle. He previously was charged with felony serious injury by vehicle, driving while impaired, driving without a license, careless and reckless driving, and traveling the wrong way on a highway.

Lemus is being held at the Forsyth County jail under a $200,000 bond.

Police said Lemus did not have an American driver's license on him and did not have a passport. They added that he did have a Salvadorian ID.