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Patrol considers speeding charges against trooper in fatal wreck

The North Carolina State Highway Patrol is consulting with the Nash County District Attorney's Office about a fatal wreck involving a state trooper last week, authorities said Monday.

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Rocky Mount wreck
ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. — The North Carolina State Highway Patrol is consulting with the Nash County District Attorney's Office about a fatal wreck involving a state trooper last week, authorities said Monday.

Maurilia Solis Leon, 59, of Rocky Mount, died last Tuesday when a Highway Patrol cruiser sideswiped her car on U.S. Highway 301 as she exited the parking lot of a local Golden Corral, authorities said.

Trooper A.S. Samuel tried to swerve left to avoid the collision but struck the driver's side door of Leon's Dodge Stratus, authorities said.

According to the wreck report, which was released Monday, Samuel was driving at 53 mph in a 45-mph zone, but it wasn't clear whether he was at fault. The Highway Patrol is considering speeding charges against him.

Samuel has been placed on administrative duty, pending the outcome of the investigation of the wreck. Such moves are customary when troopers are involved in incidents that result in injury or death.

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