Accident report: Trooper speeding in fatal crash

ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. (WTVD) -- An accident report released Monday shows a State Highway Patrol trooper was speeding before an accident that left a woman dead in Nash County.

According to the document, Trooper Arnold Sylvester Samuel was traveling at 53 miles per hour in a 45 miles per hour zone when he struck a vehicle driven by 59-year-old Maurilia Solis Leon. The report also showed Leon failed to yield the right of way.

Click here to read the report (.pdf)

Samuel was traveling north on Highway 301 in Rocky Mount last Tuesday evening when a 2002 Dodge Stratus, driven by Leon, pulled out in front of him from the parking lot of a Golden Corral restaurant.

The Patrol said two independent witnesses reported Samuel attempted to steer to the left to avoid a collision, but hit the driver-side door of the Dodge, killing Leon.

The Highway Patrol also released dash cam video from the officer's car.

The Patrol also previously stated that Samuel was not enroute to a call at the time of the crash.

The trooper suffered non-life-threatening injuries.

The preliminary investigation showed both drivers were wearing their seatbelts and alcohol was not a factor in the collision.

Classifieds | Report A Typo |  Send Tip |  Get Alerts | See Click Fix
Follow @abc11 on Twitter  |  Become a fan on Facebook

Get more Local/State »

nc highway patrol, accident, nash county, local/state

• Comment Now
• Email
• Print
• Report a typo
•