Charlotte, North Carolina Car Accident Kills Former NCSU Football Player

August 17, 2009, by Michael A. DeMayo

A Charlotte hit-and-run accident right before 1am on Sunday claimed the life of a former North Carolina State University football player. Edrick Smith was riding in the back of a Honda Accord that was hit by a Camaro, which was speeding at about 80 – 100 mph. The deadly car crash happened at the intersection of Salome Church Road and North Tryon Street.

The driver of the Honda, 30-year-old Hakeem Ward Holloway, and 31-year-old Barry Tyrone Pace, who was also a passenger in the Accord, were hospitalized.

The impact of the North Carolina car accident split the Accord in two. The Camaro’s driver, Hugo Fernando Rosillo, fled the crash site on foot but police later found him. The 30-year-old motorist was taken to the hospital and arrested. He is charged with felony hit-and-run, second-degree murder, and driving while impaired.

Smith, 29, leaves behind his wife, Karisa, and their three children. The former NCSU football player set the record for tackles by a freshman in 1998. He was a possible NFL contender when he got hurt.

Impaired Driving
Driving under the influence of drugs, alcohol, or medication is dangerous and places the lives of the impaired driver and others on the road at stake. On August 21, 2009, police officers in cities throughout North Carolina and other US States will begin their Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest. crackdown in an effort to save lives as we wind our way toward the end of the summer holidays and Labor Day on September 7.

While 6,159 of the almost 13,000 people killed in drunk driving crashes 2007 were drivers between the ages 21 – 34 with a blood alcohol concentration of .08% or greater, a new study shows that older adults are not exempt for binge drinking. Duke University researchers are reporting that out of 11,000 survey participants, 22% of the men and 9% of the women binge drink (consume 5 drinks or more). The findings from this new survey can be found in the latest issue of The American Journal of Psychiatry.

Former N.C. State football player killed in hit-and-run, Charlotte.com, August 17, 2009

Former NC State Football Player Edrick Smith Killed in Charlotte Car Crash, MyFox8, August 16, 2009

Survey Finds Binge Drinking Among Older People, Too, US News & World Report, August 17, 2009

Related Web Resources:
Drunk Driving. Over the LImit. Under Arrest, NHTSA

Binge Drinking, CDC

The American Journal of Psychiatry