Arrest Made in Garner Hit-and-Run That Killed Siblings

Garner, N.C. — Police have filed second-degree murder charges against a man they believe intentionally caused a fatal hit-and-run accident.

Clayton police arrested Victoriano Thomas Layon, of 779 Oliva Way in Selma, early Saturday morning. 

Siblings Wanda Altman, 52, of Clayton, and Daris Hancock, 49, of Star, were killed in the hit-and-run at the intersection of U.S. 70 and White Oak Road shortly after 6:30 p.m. Friday, police said.

“My mom was there every day of my life. When I was good. When I was bad, she still had my corner. Making a mistake, or not making a mistake. I have to say she's the single strongest woman I've ever seen in my life,” said Lance Nooe, Altman's son.

The siblings were traveling to visit Nooe when the crash happened.

“I called once. She didn't call back. I figured maybe she just lost track of time and was with a friend. I just wasn't thinking anything like that would ever happen,” he said.

Nooe's father was also killed in a vehicle crash in 2005.

Officials did not say why they thought Layon, 36, intentionally caused the accident. It was unclear whether alcohol or drugs were involved, the accident report indicated.

"There is no reason to believe at this point that the suspect knew the victims, but investigators believe the suspect intentionally caused the accident," Sgt. Joe Binns, with the Garner police, said in a release.

The siblings were riding in a 1995 Ford Taurus. They stopped behind a 2006 Volkswagen sedan at a traffic light in the eastbound lanes of the intersection.

Layon approached the cars in the same lane and rear-ended the Ford Taurus at 45 mph, according to the police report. The collision pushed the Taurus and Volkswagen through the intersection for distances of 156 feet and 254 feet, respectively.

Four other people suffered minor injuries in the wreck, police said. A woman and two children in Layon's vehicle and Gladys Lee, the driver of a third vehicle, were taken to WakeMed with non-life-threatening injuries.

WRAL spoke Saturday afternoon with Lee. She is at home recovering. She said she blacked out during the crash and doesn't remember anything after that.

Garner police, state troopers and Wake County sheriff's deputies searched for Layon throughout Friday night after he allegedly ran from the accident scene. A K-9 team and the state Highway Patrol helicopter aided in the search.

Layon was found Saturday walking down U.S. Highway 70 at Enterprise Drive, officers said. An ambulance was called to the scene, because he appeared to be disoriented.

Layon was transferred to the Garner Police Department, where he was interviewed and charged. He appeared before a Wake County magistrate Saturday, but bond was not set. He is scheduled to appear in court again Monday.

Eastbound U.S. 70 was shut down for more than five hours, and the intersection was blocked to traffic, police said. Debris was scattered for more than 200 feet around the area.