GOLDSBORO – Goldsboro Police said a passenger was struck and killed after jumping from a vehicle. At 6:22am Wednesday, patrol officers were dispatched to the westbound lanes of Highway 70 East at Wayne Memorial Drive for a traffic crash between a vehicle and pedestrian.
Both westbound lanes of Highway 70 were closed while traffic was diverted onto Spence Avenue for the investigation.
Police said 35 year-old Michael Wayne Pridgen Jr. of Mount Olive was a front seat passenger in a vehicle being driven by Jessica Lynn Ortiz, also of Mount Olive. Ortiz and Pridgen were having an argument inside the vehicle when Pridgen opened his passenger door and jumped out of the vehicle while it was still in motion. Pridgen landed on the roadway and was subsequently struck by another motorist. Pridgen was transported to Wayne UNC Health Care where he died of his injuries.
Ortiz was cited for driving on a revoked license. No charges will be filed against the driver who struck Pridgen.
