Man's death in Durham makes 11 killed while walking on I-40 this year

Through July 31, 2023, 11 people have been hit and killed on Interstate 40.

Posted 8:42 a.m. Jul 31 — Updated 10:02 p.m. Jul 31

Eric Miller

, WRAL reporter

DURHAM, N.C. — It has been a deadly year for pedestrians on North Carolina’s interstates. Through July 31, 2023, 11 people have been hit and killed on Interstate 40.

The latest came just before 1 a.m., when callers to 911 began to report a man hit multiple times, trying to cross the interstate near Durham.

According to the Durham Police Department, Benito Briones, 44, of Carrboro, had run out of gas and was trying to cross I-40 on foot near Exit 273 for N.C. Highway 54.

He was hit and killed by an SUV and a truck, and he died on impact, police said.

The SUV, which had four people inside, stayed at the scene. No one inside was injured.

All westbound lanes on I-40 were closed for seven hours, into the Monday morning commute, and delays at one point could be seen as far back as the Fayetteville Road exit, extending through the interchange with N.C. Highway 751.

The crash remains under investigation. Anyone who saw the crash or who has information is asked to call Investigator J.T. Rose at 919-475-4149 or Crime Stoppers at 919-683-1200. Crime Stoppers pays cash rewards for information leading to arrests in felony cases and callers never have to identify themselves.

Data obtained by WRAL News shows since Jan. 1, 2019, 98 pedestrians have been killed on major North Carolina interstates; I-40 is the deadliest with 36 people killed.

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