Driver Fell Asleep And Awoke To A Crash

Dunn Daily Record Photo

By Robert Jordan
Dunn Daily Record

DUNN – A fully loaded water tanker for use on the Interstate 95 widening project wiped out a building, damaged other automobiles and nearly injured innocent bystanders. All because its driver said he fell asleep.

On Monday, Oct. 2, at 9:42 a.m., 58-year-old Vincent Lee Washington of Jupiter Drive in Dunn was driving a 2022 International truck west on Carolina Drive, according to a wreck report submitted by Dunn police Sgt. E.T. Cole. At an estimated speed of 35 mph, the truck left the right side of the highway, jumped the curbing and struck a building at 209 E. Granville St. with such force it traveled all the way through the structure, cutting the building in half.

Not only was the $100,000 building a total loss, debris from the crash damaged a 2017 Honda, owned by Kenneth Roland Johnson, of Dunn and a 2004 Chevrolet, owned by Curtis James Miles, of Smithfield, Cole noted in his report. The brick structure is owned by Danielle Ellen Villanueva, of Lakeside Drive, Sanford.

Dunn Daily Record Photo

There were several pedestrians in the parking lot waiting for their vehicles to be cleaned and several workers cleaning those vehicles. They scattered for safety when the truck crashed through the building.

Washington was examined by paramedics on the scene and declined treatment at a hospital.

Sgt. Cole reports that Washington claims to have fallen asleep behind the wheel causing the truck to leave the lane of travel.

No charges were filed as a result of this crash.

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