DURHAM - A trooper with the N.C. Highway Patrol is being credited with risking his life to rescue two men whose truck was hit head-on during a fiery car crash Saturday morning on N.C. 98 in Durham County.
The trooper, Justin Mitchell, jumped out of his patrol car and dragged the driver to safety, according to Sgt. Maurice Devalle of the patrol's Durham office. The other man was able to get out.
The accident happened about 2:30 a.m. when a black Chrysler Crossfire approached a Highway Patrol DWI checkpoint on N.C. 98 near North Adams Road, made a quick U-turn and turned back on 98. Two patrol cars pursued the Chrysler, whose driver lost control near Southview Road. The Chrysler went on the left shoulder, overcorrected and went back across the road, colliding with a small box truck. The suspect's vehicle burst into flames and the driver, a man, was ejected. He died at the scene.
Devalle said Monday he was awaiting official confirmation of the driver's identity from the state medical examiner's office in Chapel Hill.
He said the men in the box truck were:
* Edouard Ducrest, 25, of Rougemont, who was driving.
* Patrick Worthy, 50, of Holly Springs.
Devalle said they were treated at Duke University Hospital and released Saturday night.
Copyright 2012 The Durham Herald Co.All Rights Reserved
