A Selma woman that police said was driving on a revoked license has been charged with killing a young mother in a deadly accident on US 70 near Buffalo Road Saturday afternoon.
Police said Edrick Caba Caraballo, 28, and his wife, Erika Yarixsa Doblado Arebalo, 23, of Sadisco Road, Clayton had just left Lowes Home Improvement in Smithfield with an air compressor loaded in the bed of their 2013 Ford F-150 pickup truck.
As the couple turned onto US 70 in Selma to head towards Clayton, the air compressor fell over in the bed of the truck.
Selma Police said the couple stopped on the shoulder of the roadway to secure the item.
Erika Arebalo was standing behind the truck when it was rear ended by a 2006 Honda Accord driven Teresa Yvonne Taylor, 45, of East Preston Street, Selma. After the impact, Erika was thrown into the air and landed on the grassy shoulder of the highway. She died at the scene from her injuries.
Her husband, Edrick, was standing in the bed of the truck. He was ejected onto the ground and briefly knocked unconscious. His injuries were not life threatening.
Taylor reportedly told police she was traveling at the posted speed limit of 55 miles per hour and began to roll up the windows because her hair was in her face. According to police, Taylor said she wiped her hair from her face and also blinked her eyes because a fake eyelash was coming off. When she looked up she told police she saw the truck and crashed into the back of it. Police confirmed she was traveling at 55 mph at the time of the impact.
Police seized Taylor’s cell phone as part of their investigation. The NC Highway Patrol was called to assist Selma Police.
Taylor was treated and released at Wake Med on Saturday.
On Sunday she turned herself into Selma Police and was charged with misdemeanor death by motor vehicle and driving on a revoked license. She was released on a $1,500 bond pending a July 18th court appearance.
Police said the deceased woman’s 7 month-old infant daughter was in a child seat in the back seat of the Ford truck. The baby was not injured. Photos by John Payne
