BENSON – The State Highway Patrol has arrested a driver they say caused a fatal wreck on Interstate 40 in Johnston County.
Cristhian E. Cespedesarias, 25, of Clinton, NC was arrested Wednesday by state troopers and charged with felony hit and run causing injury or death, failure to maintain lane control, and driving on a revoked license.
Around 8:30am Tuesday, the Highway Patrol says Cespedesarias was operating a tractor trailer eastbound in the left lane of I-40 at the 318 mile marker, near Highway 210, when he slammed on the brakes for slower traffic ahead. The semi jackknifed, and skidded across the right lane and onto the shoulder, striking a parked semi truck transporting a beam.
Roy Dale Ward, 58, of Leland, NC was standing beside the parked semi and was fatally injured. Mr. Ward was part of the crew helping escort the large beam and had been the operator of a pilot car.
The Highway Patrol said after the crash, Cespedesarias and a passenger crawled from the managed cab of their truck. The passenger remained at the scene, however, Cespedesarias crossed the median, flagged down a westbound tractor trailer, and fled from the scene.
Sometime later, troopers said Cespedesarias was driven back to the scene by family members where he was questioned by the Highway Patrol and released. He reportedly claimed he was the passenger in the truck, not the driver.
Troopers alleged evidence from the truck indicated Cespedesarias was in fact the driver.
After consulting with the Johnston County District Attorney’s Office, warrants were obtained for Cespedesarias and he was arrested Wednesday. At last report, he remains in the Johnston County Jail under a $100,000 secured bond.
