911 operator, 3-year-old son killed in Rocky Mount crash; driver charged with DWI

A 911 operator and her 3-year-old son died Sunday night in a crash in Rocky Mount, according to the State Highway Patrol, and the other driver was charged with DWI.

The crash involved two cars and occurred after 11 p.m. on West Raleigh Boulevard at Walnut Street, near Ebenezer Baptist Church.

The Rocky Mount Police Department identified the deceased as 25-year-old Netanya Richardson, "a devoted 911 telecommunicator," and her young son, Andre Dunn. Both were pronounced dead at the scene.

Two people in the other car, Randy Sharpe, 37, and Brian Thorne, 38, were taken to ECU Health with serious injuries.

The North Carolina State Highway Patrol said Richardson was traveling westbound on West Raleigh Boulevard and Sharpe was traveling eastbound when he crossed over the center turn lane into the path of Richardson, causing the crash.

Tyeisha Williams, who lives on the street, heard screeching brakes and stepped outside right after the crash. She told WRAL News she saw multiple people thrown from the cars, including a young child.

WRAL reporter Lora Lavigne said pieces of car were scattered in the roadway, calling the scene "truly devastating."

Godmother mourns loss of 3-month-old boy, friend

On Monday, WRAL News spoke with Tamala Cooper, the godmother of Andre Dunn. Cooper cared for Andre while Richardson worked the weekend shift.

"Miss Tam" – as Andre called her – took a selfie with the boy before his mom picked him up on Sunday.

"He gave me a kiss and said, “Miss Tam, I love you. Don’t you cry. I will see you again,'" Cooper said.

It would be the Cooper and Andre's last time together.

Cooper said Richardson loved her son and her job.

"She worked hard for her baby," Cooper said of Richardson. "She did all she could for her baby, all the time, every time.

"She loved her family, her friends. She’s a lovable person, [and had a] big heart."

Sharpe, the driver, was charged with two counts of felony death by vehicle, one count of felony serious injury by vehicle, driving while impaired, reckless driving and driving while license revoked for an impaired revocation, according to police.

WRAL News discovered Sharpe has been convicted of three DWIs since 2003.

Cooper said that makes the loss even tougher to comprehend.

"We lost some good people here, good people," Cooper said. "Stay home if you’re drunk. Stay home if you’re high, so other people can still see their loved ones."