$100K bond for driver in crash that killed NCCU student

Police said the crash occurred in the 1100 block of East Geer Street just after 9:30 p.m. when Natasha Lynn Taylor, of Durham, crossed the double yellow line into oncoming traffic and struck a westbound car driven by 18-year-old Quillon Rendleman, of Charlotte.

In court on Monday, police said Taylor was driving drunk. She was held on $100,000 bond.

"Given the charge, it's very serious, and what happened is very serious," Taylor's attorney, Bill Breeze said, adding that his client believed the high bond was fair.

Myiah Andrews, 18, of Greenville, was a passenger in Rendleman's car and was killed in the wreck. Andrews was a freshman at North Carolina Central University.

Rendleman, Taylor and two other passengers in Rendlemen’s vehicle – Jeremiah Phronebarger and Celi Smith, who are also students at NCCU – were taken to the hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.

Taylor was charged with felony death by motor vehicle, driving while impaired and failing to maintain lane control. She was placed in Durham County Jail under a $250,000 bond.

East Gear Street was closed from Cheek Road to Essex Road for four hours on Sunday while authorities investigated the crash. The road had reopened Monday morning.

Interim NCCU Chancellor Johnson O. Akinleye released a statement Monday morning about Andrews' death, saying she was a pre-nursing major who was active in the campus chapter of National Council of Negro Women. Andrews was a 2016 graduate of South Central High School in Winterville, Akinleye said.

"I would ask that you keep Ms. Andrews family, friends and classmates in your thoughts and prayers during their time of grief. The sudden passing of a promising young person who was just beginning her journey is indeed heartbreaking and causes us to lean on one another for strength as members of a unified Eagle family," Akinleye said.

"Three other NCCU students who were in the same vehicle as Ms. Andrews — Mr. Jeremiah Phronebarger, Mr. Quillon Rendleman and Mr. Celi Smith — were also injured in the accident. One student is still being treated at a nearby hospital."

Akinleye said counselors will be available Monday in the student health building and McLean Residence Hall.