Local News

Horrific Wreck Kills 4, Injures 2

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Raleigh wreck scene
RALEIGH — One Raleigh policeman described it as theworst wreck he's handled in 25 years. A two-vehicle crash at theintersection of Six Forks Road and Atlantic Avenue early Saturday eveningleft four people dead and two critically injured. No victims have beenidentified, pending notification of families.

Police say a Mazda RX-7 with four men inside was running more than90 mph when the driver lost control on a turn. The car skidded more than100 feet before crossing the center line into the path of a Plymouthminivan. The van held two people.

The toll of dead and injured could have been even higher: the wreckedvehicles came to rest within mere feet of a construction crew doing road work.

One construction worker said the Mazda had just two wheels touching theground when he spotted the speeding car. The van hit the car broadside.

Everyone in the car died. Documents found in the car lead police tobelieve the men were Mexican citizens.

Police said the van's passengers were a 48-year-old Raleigh man and a48-year-old woman from Cherryville. They are listed in critical conditionat Wake Medical Center.

Cleaning up the scene closed the busy roadway for more than five hours.

On Friday evening, a three-vehicle accident in Franklin County killedthree people at the scene and sent a driver to hospital by helicopter.

The Highway Patrol said Ruben Lopez Patricio, 21, failed to yield theright-of-way when turning from NC 98 onto US 401. Patricio is in criticalcondition at UNC Hospitals. The three who died were Patricio'spassengers: Agusto Patricio, Jose-Luis Patricio and Jaciel Patricio, allof the same Louisburg address. None of the men wore a seatbelt.

Drivers of the two other vehicles in the crash were treated at a localhospital and released. They had been wearing seatbelts.

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