1 dead, 4 injured after driver in stolen car causes crash at Durham intersection, police say

DURHAM, N.C. (WTVD) -- Durham Police are investigating after a crash involving a stolen car left a man dead.

Police said the wreck happened at 5:35 a.m. Wednesday on Durham Chapel Hill Boulevard near Southwest Durham Drive.

Officers began investigating when they responded to a report of vehicle break-ins in the 3500 block of Mount Moriah Road. An officer arrived and saw the suspect vehicle, a stolen 2020 Kia Soul, heading east on Durham Chapel Hill Boulevard. When the officer tried to stop the car, the driver took off.

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Seconds later, police said, the Kia sped through a red light at Durham Chapel Hill Boulevard and Southwest Durham Drive and crashed into a 2021 Toyota Highlander that was turning left from westbound Durham Chapel Hill Boulevard.

A passenger in the Toyota, identified by DPD as Jermaine Clement, 53, of Durham, was taken to a hospital but later died from his injuries. The driver of the Highlander was hospitalized with what were described as non-life-threatening injuries.

Three people inside the stolen Kia were also taken to a hospital. One suffered life-threatening injuries and the other two were less severely injured, police said.

Charges related to the crash are pending.

Family, friends left in shock

Clement was just moments away from arriving at a dialysis appointment when the crash happened.

More seriously injured than he may have realized, Clement was able to call his mother from the scene.

She then called another son to let him know what happened.

"I pick up the phone and she tells me well, I just got off the phone with Jermaine," said Clement's brother, Steven Williams, "He let me know that he was in an accident. He's a little banged up, but he's all right."

The phone call initially put Williams and his wife at ease. But a few hours later, Williams said, his wife started getting worrisome updates to her brother's MyChart account.

They rushed to the hospital.

"That's when we realized he was in grave ... he was in dire because he had already coded twice," Williams said.

On Thursday, fragments of car parts remained at the scene.

"Man, I'm still shocked, man, I'm just like, I'm blown away," said Oral Chinfloo, a neighbor. "Good brother."

Chinfloo has lived next door to Clement and his mother for more than 20 years.

"He's always been a fighter. Somebody who has just like faced adversities and been able to come through on the other side like a champ," Chinfloo said. "And strong faith. Strong will. He inspired me."

Loved ones said Clement had health issues including diabetes that led to him becoming an amputee.

He retired after many years from being a driver with GoDurham Access, a transit service for riders with disabilities.

It was the same service Clement was using Wednesday morning to get to his dialysis appointment.

"Same company he used to work for. Yeah, yeah," Williams reflected.

Durham police said once charges are filed more information will be released.

In the meantime, Clement's family is making plans to lay him to rest in the next week or so.

Anyone with any information about this incident is asked to contact Investigator J. Lanier at (919) 560-4935 ext. 29447.

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ABC11's Akilah Davis contributed.