KENLY – A 45 year-old woman who reportedly killed two innocent people while attempting to flee from a State Trooper has been charged with two counts of second-degree murder.
Around 8:35am Monday, Tanya Renee Terry of Roanoke Rapids, NC was reportedly traveling through southern Wilson County when a trooper running stationary radar clocked her traveling 112 miles per hour in a 2014 Dodge Challenger. The trooper activated his blue lights and siren and attempted to conduct a traffic stop. The pursuit quickly entered Johnston County with the trooper still attempting to catch up to the speeding car.
While traveling southbound on US Highway 301 South of Kenly near Truck Stop Road, a witness said Terry was traveling down the middle of the two lane road when she suddenly approached a Ford F-150 pickup driven northbound by Otis Ray Allen, 52, of Clayton. The witness said Allen slowed and attempted to avoid the approaching car but could not avoid being hit head-on by Terry.
Both drivers were seriously injured and transported to WakeMed. Two passengers in the Ford pickup, Marvin Dave Atkinson, 43, of Selma and Thatis Eugene Mickens, 56, of Selma died at the scene. Atkinson and Mickens were wearing seat belts but could not survive the violent impact.
Tuesday afternoon, Tanya Terry was in stable condition at WakeMed. Otis Allen was listed in serious but stable condition.
Authorities estimate Terry was traveling at 100 miles per hour when her car struck Allen’s truck, which had slowed to approximately 40 miles per hour at impact. The trooper attempting to stop Terry was so far behind her on US 301 that he did not witness the fatal crash.
Tanya Terry was charged Tuesday with two counts of second degree murder. She also faces a long list of traffic charges. Additional charges have not been ruled out. Authorities suspect impairment, other than alcohol, may be involved. A blood sample was taken from Terry in the hospital as part of the ongoing investigation.
Once Terry is released from WakeMed, she will be formally served with the second-degree murder arrest warrants.
The double fatality remains under investigation by the State Highway Patrol, with assistance from their Accident Reconstruction Team.
What a huge loser. Hats off to whichever authorities decided to charge her with murder. Rightfully so.
I knew both of the deceased, such a tragedy!
She was wrong but if she was 112 mph there is a high possibility that she would lose control. If the police would have not chased her, these 2 men could still be alive. I know if it were my family member we would be suing the police dept.
She was traveling that fast before the trooper ever saw her so whether or not there was a trooper or chase involved it still could have happened. And that lawsuit you speak of wouldn’t make it very far.
This is 100% Tanya Renee Terry’s FAULT. She was speeding 100 mph BEFORE the police even started to try to STOP her. If they had not tried, she would simply continue to drive in this unsafe manner UNTIL she eventually killed someone. Hat’s off to the policeman that TRIED to prevent this reckless driver from ruining other people’s lives!