Man charged with DWI in fatal Durham crash

Two brothers were killed early Friday in a head-on collision on N.C. Highway 98 in Durham, authorities said.

Posted 3:51 p.m. Dec 27, 2013 — Updated 5:39 p.m. Dec 28, 2013

DURHAM, N.C. — Two brothers were killed early Friday in a head-on collision on N.C. Highway 98 in Durham, authorities said.

A 2010 Dodge Ram pickup driven by Robert Portner Breeden III was westbound on N.C. 98 at about 5:50 a.m. when it crossed the center line and collided with an Isuzu Rodeo SUV driven by Jorge Avalar near the Coley Road intersection, according to the North Carolina State Highway Patrol.

Avalar, 43, and his brother, Andreas Avalar, 47, both of Ruby Ridge Drive in Durham, died in the wreck.

Breeden, 20, of 10900 Cahill Road in Raleigh, was charged with two counts of felony death by motor vehicle and driving while impaired.

Marijuana is suspected as a factor in the crash, authorities said. Troopers are waiting on the results of a blood test to determine how much marijuana was in Breeden's system.

Breeden has previously been charged with a hit-and-run with property damage in Wake County and possession of synthetic marijuana in Chatham County. He's due in court on those charges next month.

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