The driver of a Chevy pickup truck stopped in the roadway escaped serious injury after being hit from behind by a suspected drunk driving who was traveling at 65 miles per hour. The violent crash occurred Tuesday night on Powhatan Road at Glen Laurel Road near Clayton.
The Highway Patrol said Jesus Aguilar Hernandez, 48, of Clayton had stopped on Powhatan Road to make a left turn onto Glen Laurel Road when his 2002 Chevy Silverado was struck from behind by a 2009 Hyundai SUV operated by William Stephenson Dietsche, 24, of Clayton. After the impact the SUV ran off the roadway and into a pump house in the front yard of a home at 3059 Powhatan Road.
According to an accident report, the truck was pushed 35 feet forward and came to rest in the highway, while the SUV traveled 204 feet after the initial impact coming to rest after striking the pump house. Trooper D.K. Douglas estimated Dietsche was traveling at 65mph in a 55mph zone at the time he struck the stationary pickup. A toolbox mounted in the bed of the truck was ejected onto the side of the highway.
Hernandez was treated at the scene for minor injuries. Dietsche was transported to Wake Medical Center for treatment of non-life threatening injuries. Trooper Douglas later charged Dietsche with driving while impaired and failure to reduce speed.
Both vehicles were totaled in the collision. Damage to the pump house was placed at $1,000.
Photos by Jason M. Pridgen
