Raleigh, N.C. — Charges are expected against a Raleigh man in a wrong-way wreck that killed two people Sunday afternoon, police said.

According to a wreck report, Ray Norman Rouse IV was going the wrong way in an eastbound lane of Wade Avenue when he struck a car driven by Ormond Jackson Bailey shortly before 1:15 p.m. 

Bailey and his passenger, Gaynell Batton Bailey, were taken to WakeMed, where they died, police said. 

Rouse was also taken to WakeMed, where he was listed in critical condition Sunday night. Once he is out of the hospital, police said, he will be charged with driving while impaired and driving the wrong way on a dual lane highway.

Betty Savage lives across the street from the wreck.

"I heard a sound that was so loud, it was almost as if a bomb had taken off," she said. "It sounded so close, I thought it was something that hit my house."

She described a chaotic scene as paramedics struggled to rescue Ormond and Gaynell Bailey.

"There was lots of smoke. The smoke was engulfing," Savage said. "They had to get the woman out of the car first ... That lady is there on the ground, and they're just going on her chest as hard as they can."

Then, they had to cut away a door to free Ormond Bailey, she said.

"Everybody was quietly watching UNC and Miami play, but wow, that's really insignificant when something like this happens outside your door," Savage said.

Wade Avenue was closed between Glenwood Avenue and Capital Boulevard for several hours while investigators were at the scene.