UNC student charged after I-85 head-on crash kills three near Hillsborough, 911 calls released
HILLSBOROUGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- Three people were killed in Orange County when troopers say a Jeep headed the wrong way on the interstate collided with a car head-on.
It happened early Sunday morning on Interstate 85 near the area where it joins Interstate 40 in Orange County around 3 a.m.
A caller to 911 said he saw the vehicle shortly before the accident.
"He's not driving slow," said the man.
Click to listen to the 911 call.
Other witnesses reported the crash and said the vehicles were smoking.
Click to listen to the 911 call.
Troopers said the Jeep Wrangler was driven by 20-year-old UNC student Chandler Michael Kania.
Kania - a rising junior at UNC Chapel Hill - collided with a Suzuki with four people in it. Three of the four people inside the Suzuki died on impact.
The driver of the Suzuki was identified as 49-year-old Felecia Harris from Charlotte. The front seat passenger, 46-year-old Darlene McGee, of Charlotte, and a 6-year-old child in the backseat were also killed. The 6-year-old child was identified as Jahnice Beard from Brooklyn, N.Y.
The fourth passenger, 9-year-old Jahnia King was rushed to UNC Hospital and was last listed in good condition.
Kania was also taken to UNC with non-life threatening injuries.
Investigators believe alcohol was a factor in the crash. Because Kania is only 20-years-old, the Alcohol Law Enforcement is also investigating. Kania is charged with DWI, careless and reckless driving, possession of an open container of an alcoholic beverage, possession of alcohol by a person under 21 years of age, and driving by person less than 21 years old after consuming alcohol.
More charges are likely.
