Man riding moped killed in hit and run
By Melody Brown-Peyton
Published in News on September 6, 2018 10:58 AM
The North Carolina Highway Patrol is investigating a hit and run that resulted in a motorist being killed.
According to reports, just after 6 p.m. Tuesday, N.C. Highway Patrol Trooper Bennie Grady responded to a hit and run along Memorial Church Road and Hooks Road.
Jermaine Jasin Mercer Jr., 21, of 1954 Memorial Church Road in Fremont, was riding on his moped traveling west on Memorial Church Road, approaching Hooks Road.
The vehicle driven by 56-year-old Michael Carl Collier, of 344 Union Grove Church Road of Fremont, struck Mercer.
Grady said Collier was driving a 1999 Ford Ranger at a high rate of speed when his truck allegedly crashed into Mercer.
Mercer was thrown from his moped and came to rest in a ditch. Collier left the scene but was later located.
He was arrested and charged with driving while impaired, driving while license revoked, careless and reckless driving, felony hit and run, aggravated felony death by motor vehicle and second-degree murder.
Collier was booked into the Wayne County Detention Center with a secured bond of $800,000.
First Sgt. John Bobbitt said that Collier has an extensive record of driving while impaired that dates back more than 30 years. Within the last 10 years, he has been charged with two convictions of driving while impaired, and his license is currently revoked.