Driver charged in crash that killed Knightdale police officer Ryan Hayworth

KNIGHTDALE, N.C. (WTVD) -- Police filed charges on Friday against the driver accused of slamming into a Knightdale police cruiser, killing officer Ryan Hayworth in October.

Dedric Romero Privette, 40, is charged with five felonies. Among the charges -- felony death by vehicle and driving while impaired.
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On Oct. 17, Hayworth and his training officer Cody Hagler were investigating a crash on I-540 at approximately 2:41 a.m. when a car came slamming into their cruiser.

The impact left Hayworth, 23, dead and Hagler, 25, injured.

A 45-year-old Cary man was also injured in the crash and taken to WakeMed.
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Hayworth was a US Army veteran who had worked as a police officer in Knightdale for just three months. Hayworth was the son of a former Zebulon police chief.

WATCH | 'He has touched so many lives': Knightdale community honors fallen police officer