Headlights examined in fatal Raleigh head-on collision
Police investigating a fatal head-on collision on Interstate 40 in Raleigh last weekend are trying to figure out whether lights on a car that hit a minivan were on at the time.
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Carolina Elizabeth Gonzales Linares, 28, of Morrisville, and Job Misrael Hernandez, 17, were killed in the wreck, which happened shortly before 2:30 a.m. Sunday near Jones Sausage Road.
Investigators said Linares drove her 2009 Toyota Corolla in the wrong direction of westbound I-40 and hit a Ford Windstar minivan driven by Hernandez's brother, Natanael Hernandez, 21.
He was listed in serious condition at WakeMed on Friday morning.
According to an affidavit in a search warrant released Thursday, the impact caused extensive damage, which made it difficult for detectives to tell whether Linares' headlights were on at the time.
They removed the brake bulbs from her Corolla, as well as the front left headlight bulb and the car's event data recorder.
The warrant affidavit indicates that investigators believe the headlights on Hernandez's minivan were on.
It's still unclear why Linares was driving in the wrong direction. Police have requested blood tests to see whether alcohol might have been a factor.
Family members said Friday that Natanael Hernandez's condition has improved and that he is breathing on his own.
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