A Johnston County man was struck and killed by a car early Friday morning. The wreck was reported at 3:57am on Federal Road outside of Benson.
According to the NC Highway Patrol, Thelbert Gene Byrd, 49, of Benson was operating a car on Federal Road when he struck and killed Forrest Louis Williams, 53, also of Benson who was walking in the roadway. Williams had worked at a farm on Elevation Road for the last 30 years.
Byrd failed to stop at the scene. The Highway Patrol said after the wreck, Byrd continued to drive and contacted a family member claiming he didn’t know what to do. Byrd returned to the scene with his relative. Byrd was arrested by Trooper J.J. Kiser for driving while 
impaired and driving on an expired license. Authorities said his license had expired in 2017.
Williams death is the 16th fatal collision on Johnston County roadways in 2018.
Photos by John Payne
