Durham Police Corporal Charged After Fatal Harnett County Crash

A Durham police corporal faces a misdemeanor death-by-motor-vehicle charge following a crash that killed one person and injured seven others near Angier.

The collision happened around 9:45 p.m. Saturday at the intersection of N.C. Highway 210 and Old Stage Road.

Authorities say driver ran red light

According to the Harnett County Sheriff’s Office, 52-year-old Joseph King of Benson drove through a red light and struck a passenger van.

The van’s driver, 67-year-old Justin Shane Heath, died at the scene. Six other people inside the van were transported to WakeMed Raleigh. King suffered serious injuries that authorities described as not life-threatening.

Investigators said impairment was not considered a factor.

Internal investigation planned

King is a corporal assigned to the Durham Police Department’s Uniform Patrol Bureau. The department said it will conduct an internal investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash.

The criminal charge is an allegation, and King is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

Source: WRAL.

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