Family: Teen killed in crash at Zebulon gas station was kind, hardworking
Jent lived with his step-grandmother a half mile away from the store. He was described by family as a hardworking boy with a kind heart.
Posted — UpdatedFamily members told WRAL News that DJ Jent, 16, a student at Rolesville High School, died Wednesday morning.
The crash happened Monday just before 6 p.m. at the 5000 block of Zebulon Road, outside Mitchell's Food Mart.
Troopers said the driver of a white SUV hit a pedestrian before swerving and hitting a gray SUV parked at the gas station. Then, both SUVs were pushed more than 50 yards into a pickup truck and a taco truck.
Officials believe speed was a factor and said the driver was alert and conscious when they talked to him.
On Tuesday afternoon, Jent's family told WRAL News that he was on life support at WakeMed surrounded by his family.
His friends came out to the crash site near Halifax Road and N.C. Highway 96 to nail a wooden cross into the ground. Written on the cross was the message, "You will be missed."
Authorities said the driver of the white SUV will face charges after they claim he hit Jent and several other cars at a Zebulon gas station on Monday. The driver has not been identified and the specific charges he is facing have not yet been announced.
Jent lived with his step-grandmother a half mile away from the store. He was described by family as a hardworking boy with a kind heart.
"It's just like trying to wake up from a bad dream. You can't believe this is real," said Sherri Wells, Jent's father's ex-wife.
Sherri Wells' husband William Wells said he'd usually take Jent to the store, but "this time, I wasn't here. I wish I was."
William Wells said that it's not uncommon to see people speeding along the road near the market.
A gas station clerk said that Jent was a regular visitor and was "like family" to the staff at the market.
"When the guy came in here, he said, 'There's a boy in the ditch.' I left the store, run to the ditch, see the boy, called 911 immediately and they came in. It was quick ... very quick," said Nader Ibrahim, who was working at the store when the crash occurred.
Another person inside one of the cars involved was taken to a local hospital for treatment. The driver of the white SUV also suffered from minor injuries.
Two women working inside the taco truck when it was hit said they were shaken up, but OK.
The market was deemed unsafe due to damage from the crash, according to a state inspector.
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