2 killed in Raleigh hit-and-run crash
RALEIGH (WTVD) -- Raleigh police officers are investigating a hit-and-run accident that left two people dead.
It happened just before 12:30 a.m. on New Bern Avenue and Trawick Road when a driver ran a red light and struck a vehicle that was turning left with five people inside.
Police say 24-year-old Brittany Williams and 18-year-old Naomi Mercury died in the crash after, police say, the driver hit the car they were in and sped away.
The last few hours have been incredibly hard for the boyfriends of the two women, who survived the crash. The group was on the way to a Halloween party when they were hit.
"I just felt like a bad dream and I know when I got out of the car and saw the scene, I already knew," said Jake Wootsick, who was Mercury's boyfriend. "I saw Brittany and Naomi and I just knew it wasn't good. They were in bad shape, really bad shape."
"I can remember about 10 civilians and they all just started to look the same to me," said Nathan Norris, who is Williams's boyfriend. "I was enraged, hurt, and in disbelief."
The victims were students at Wake Technical Community College. Mercury was studying psychology. Williams was taking science classes and was about to become engaged.
"I was going to ask her to marry me today," said Norris. "Now this is what we have to go through because of someone's careless mistake."
Police say the driver, who sped away after the crash, is believed to have been in a Chevrolet Avalanche.
Police say the vehicle is dark, possibly black, with a grey front bumper.
Eyewitness News spoke with a woman who ended up chasing the driver after he took off.
"When it happens right in front of you, you have to do something," said Angel Turner.
Turner says she jumped the curb to catch up with the driver. She followed him onto the Beltline. Turner says he turned off his headlights and hightailed it to the point where she could no longer follow safely.
"That car had no intentions to stop," said Turner. "He didn't brake at all. He was probably hitting 85 or 90."
The victims' boyfriends are pleading with the driver to come forward.
"You hit a car, knowing that you was in the wrong and you continue to keep moving," said Norris.
"Whoever did this needs to step up to the plate," said Wootsick. "It might be easier for me to forgive him," said Wootsick.
Anyone with information is asked to call police at (919) 834-HELP.
