Driver charged in crash that killed Knightdale police officer Ryan Hayworth

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Saturday, November 20, 2021
Driver charged in crash that killed Knightdale police officer
Driver charged in crash that killed Knightdale police officerPolice filed charges on Friday against the driver accused of slamming into a Knightdale police cruiser, killing officer Ryan Hayworth in October.

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.

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.

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.

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