Driver killed while waiting on the side of I-540 for AAA assistance

One person died and another was seriously injured on Sunday night after both were hit in the emergency lane of Interstate 540 near Chander Drive.

According to AAA, Cristina Teres Hernandez-Cruz called for assistance at that location and a contractor was sent to help. They were both standing outside their vehicles when they were struck by a third vehicle. Hernandez-Cruz was killed and the contractor was severely injured, officials said.

The driver who hit Hernandez-Cruz and the contractor fled the scene, according to an arrest warrant. On Monday, State Highway Patrol arrested Sharod Daquan Malik Ruffin, 24, at his home in Wake Forest and charged him with felony hit and run resulting in serious injury or death and misdemeanor death by vehicle.

A spokesman for AAA told WRAL News, "We are heartbroken by this event and our thoughts are with the families of those involved. We remind all motorists to slow down and move over to give emergency responders the space they need to do their jobs safely."

Ruffin had a court hearing on Monday at 2 p.m. and was being held at the Wake County Detention Center.

Lee Gardner, a tow truck operator, spends most of his day helping stranded drivers — and worries about his own safety in the process.

"To go home is a good day," Gardner said.

Gardner knows of too many close calls where operators have come close to being hit on busy highways.

"I can't put it into words, how upsetting or furious it makes me," he said.

A similar situation played out Jan. 21 and resulted in the death of WRAL News employee Erin Simanskis. She was involved in a fender bender and was outside her car exchanging information with the other driver when she was hit and killed.

On Monday, Wake County District Attorney Lorrin Freeman said the person believed to have hit Simanskis was in the custody of U.S. Marshals in Georgia.