Police: Driver Was Arguing And Speeding When He Crashed

Charges have been filed against the driver of a car that police said caused a two car crash that injured three people.

Emergency crews responded to the 11:08pm collision Saturday, May 11th at the intersection of Highway 70 (Market Street) and Highway 301 (Brightleaf Boulevard) in Downtown Smithfield.

According to a Smithfield Police accident report, William Larry Sellers of Biz Road, Selma was traveling west on Highway 70 and was arguing with a passenger when he ran a red light at the intersection. His 2016 Nissan pickup collided with a 2004 Toyota driven by Ghassan Hassan Issa of S. Pollock Street, Selma.  Police estimated Mr. Sellers was traveling at 45 mph in a 35 mph zone at the time of the accident. Issa was traveling 30 mph at the time of impact.

Both drivers and a 52 year-old female passenger in Sellers’ car sustained minor injuries.

Sellers was charged by Officer S.H. Adams with failure to stop for a red light.

The Nissan sustained $4,000 in damage and the Toyota $3,000 in damage. Both vehicles had to be towed from the scene.

A police spokesperson said the accident still remains under investigation.