Father killed, son injured in wreck outside school

Luca Melloni, of Durham, died in the wreck outside Jeffreys Grove Elementary School shortly after 8 a.m., police spokesman Jim Sughrue said. His son, Gianluca Melloni, was in fair condition at WakeMed.

The wreck report states that their 2004 Mitsubishi SUV veered off the right side of Jeffreys Grove School Road and struck a "no parking" sign. The SUV then swerved back onto the road, but went off the left side, struck a tree along a driveway to the school and caught on fire.

The cause of the wreck remains under investigation, but police have ruled out alcohol or drugs as a factor.

The SUV was going 35 mph and did not slow before impact, according to the report. The speed limit there is 25 mph.

Parents and school buses were dropping their children off at school at the time of the wreck, police said.

"There will be counselors and psychologists available should students have seen the situation and have questions," said Karen Hamilton, director of School Counseling Services for the Wake County school system. "That also includes staff because it is a fairly traumatic event."

Jeffreys Grove Elementary Principal Lisa Cruz said that the school is lending its support to the Melloni family.

"This is a very traumatic event for a family, and we want to make sure (that) as their school family, we provide as much support to them as possible," Hamilton said.