Two East Wake High students injured in high-speed crash

Austin Wade Marx, 17, was driving a 1996 Chevrolet Camaro on Puryear Road in Knightdale just before 1 p.m. when his lost control of the car, troopers said.  The Camaro went off the road and overturned.

Neil Hunter was standing outside when the car crashed in front of his home. The first thing he heard was the vehicle's engine.

"It sounded like racing type,” he said.

Troopers said witnesses reported the car traveling up to 90 mph. Investigators said evidence at the scene supported those reports.

"I saw the car sideways,” Hunter recalled. "I know they flipped, because I heard the metal, I heard the roof, I could hear all that."

Paramedics transported Marx, of 204 Gail Ridge Lane in Wendell, and passenger Gavin William Boyd Westover, 16, of 9820 Debnam Road in Zebulon, to WakeMed for treatment.

Marx was treated and released. Westover was listed in critical condition Monday evening.

Troopers said high speed caused the wreck.

"Stuff like that happens sometimes, but not as severe as that," Hunter said. "So it was an eye-opener and hopefully it will be an eye-opener for everybody else too, and show them what can happen when you come down this road so fast.

The teens, who were wearing seat belts, had left school for an off-campus lunch when the car crashed.

Charges are pending, troopers said.