Troopers: Impaired Driver Struck Man Changing Tire On I-95

SMITHFIELD — A Smithfield man is in critical condition after being struck while attempting to change a flat tire Friday afternoon, according to the North Carolina State Highway Patrol.

Troopers said the four-vehicle collision occurred at approximately 4:04 p.m. on Interstate 95 southbound near the 95 mile marker in Smithfield.

According to the Highway Patrol, Virgil Lamark Archibald II, 38, of Smithfield, had exited his disabled pickup on the right shoulder of the interstate and was attempting to change a flat tire. Two other vehicles had stopped behind him on the shoulder.

Authorities said a white Buick, driven by Makayl Nyjah Peirce, 22, of Newport News, Virginia, traveled onto the right shoulder and struck the rear of an unoccupied Honda passenger vehicle.

The impact pushed the Honda forward, pinning Archibald between the Honda and a Jeep parked ahead of it, troopers said. The Jeep was then forced forward into the original disabled vehicle.

Archibald was transported to WakeMed, where he is listed in critical condition in the intensive care unit.

Peirce was arrested and charged with driving while impaired with felony serious injury, according to the Highway Patrol.

The crash remains under investigation.