BENSON – A motorist was ejected after his vehicle was struck by an impaired driving suspect on Christmas Day in Johnston County. The two vehicle collision was reported at 7:00am Friday in the northbound lanes of Interstate 95 at the 82 mile marker just north of Benson.
According to the State Highway Patrol, Edgar Eduardo Ajsac-Chuc, 19, of S. Fifth Street, Smithfield was traveling northbound in a 2008 BMW passenger car. Ajsac-Chuc was in the left lane traveling at an estimated 85mph when he began to pass a 1990 Chevy SUV in the right lane, traveling at the posted speed limit of 65mph, driven by John J. Drum, 50, of Pinefield, PA.
As Ajsac-Chuc began to pass the SUV he suddenly changed lanes and struck the SUV in the left rear corner. The impact forced the BMW to overturn into the median guard cable. The SUV ran off the road to the right colliding with a guardrail on the shoulder, then overturn against a tree. Drum, the only occupant in the SUV, was ejected.
Drum sustained serious injuries and was transported by ambulance to WakeMed. Ajsac-Chuc sustained minor injuries and was checked out at the scene by EMS. He was arrested by Trooper B.N. Barefoot and charged with driving while impaired, speeding and reckless driving. Ajsac-Chuc registered 0.21 on the Breathalyzer, more than double the legal limit of 0.08, according to the collision report. He was released on bond hours later pending a Jan. 22, 2021 court appearance.
