Mount Olive woman dies; hit head-on
By Gary Popp
Published in News on October 18, 2010 1:46 PM
A head-on collision Sunday night that law enforcement officials say was likely caused by a drunken driver has left a Mount Olive woman dead.
Kristie J. Lee, 37, Thunder Swamp Road, died soon after her vehicle was struck by a vehicle driven by Hermelindo Castro, 33, of Dudley.
Ms. Lee was driving with her 11-year-old daughter north on North Breazeale Avenue, just south of Northeast Church Road, at about 8:50 p.m. when she was hit.
"Castro's vehicle went into center lane to pass another vehicle and struck her head on," state Highway Patrol First Sgt. Jerry Burton said.
Castro has been charged with driving while impaired, felony death by a motor vehicle and careless and reckless driving. He is currently in Wayne County Detention Center under a $253,000 bond.
Burton estimated Castro was driving about 60 miles per hour. The speed limit is 45 miles per hour in that area.
Luis Fernandez, 29, of Dudley, was a passenger in Castro's vehicle.
All four people involved in the accident were taken to Wayne Memorial Hospital.
Mrs. Lee died in transit to the hospital, Burton said.
Her daughter was released from the emergency room Sunday night, said a patient care coordinator at Wayne Memorial Hospital.
Information on Fernandez's condition was not available as of press time.