Charges filed in fatal Princeton wreck

Princeton, N.C. — The driver of a car involved in a wreck last month that killed a Princeton High School senior and a recent graduate was charged Thursday in their deaths.

Nathan Pearson, 17, was charged with two counts of misdemeanor death by motor vehicle in the Sept. 17 wreck that killed Brandon Lee Baker, 21, and Matthew Brandon Stewart, 17. He also was charged with exceeding safe speed, driving left of center and a violation of a restricted driver's license.

Authorities said Pearson's Saturn crossed the center line on Fellowship Church Road and hit a Jeep.

Pearson, another passenger in the Saturn and the 80-year-old driver of the Jeep were injured in the wreck.

Pearson was listed in good condition Thursday at WakeMed, while Rosa Wilson, the Jeep driver, was in serious condition at Duke University Hospital. Codie McConnell, the other Saturn passenger, has been released from WakeMed.

A preliminary report by the state Highway Patrol determined the Saturn was traveling at about 70 mph in a 55-mph zone before the wreck.