Although a murder charge is unusual in vehicular-homicide cases, it is allowed under North Carolina law.
Mecklenburg County Assistant District Attorney Marsha Goodenow authorized police to charge David Scott Shimp of Jacksonville,Fla., with two counts of murder. She did not say what led to the decision.
Shimp is being held in the Mecklenburg County jail. He is charged in the deaths of Sally Clark of Iron Station and Anna Jordan of Denver. The women were cousins and attended school in Raleigh -- Clark went to Peace College, while Jordan went to North Carolina State University.
Suzanne Kessler, who also attends Peace College, was seriously injured in the accident.
Investigators believe a truck driven by Shimp crashed into a car driven by Kessler in which Clark and Jordan were passengers early Sunday morning.
Shimp was treated at Carolinas Medical Center and released.
Kessler remained hospitalized in Charlotte on Tuesday.
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