Hit-and-Run, Fiery Wreck Kill 4 in Garner Area

Garner, N.C. — A hit-and-run on U.S. Highway 70 and a second wreck where one car caught fire killed four people in the Garner area Friday night, authorities said.

The hit-and-run occurred at the intersection of U.S. 70 and Jones Sausage Road shortly after 6:30 p.m., police said. Four other people suffered minor injuries in the wreck, police said.

The Garner Police Department, the state Highway Patrol and the Wake County Sheriff's Office were searching Friday night for Victoriano Thomas Layon, 36, who authorities said ran from the scene after the wreck.

A K-9 team and the Highway Patrol helicopter aided in the search.

A man and a woman, both in their 40s or 50s, were killed when their Ford Taurus was involved in the three-car wreck. Their identities  weren't released pending notification of relatives.

A woman and two children in Layon's vehicle and the driver of a third vehicle were taken to WakeMed for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries, police said.

Eastbound U.S. 70 was shut down for more than five hours, and the intersection was blocked to traffic on Jones Sausage Road, police said. Debris was scattered for more than 20 feet around the area.

About four hours later, a wreck on Old Stage Road near the Eagle Ridge subdivision south of Garner killed two people, authorities said. One of the vehicles caught fire in the wreck.