2 dead in wrong-way head on-crash on Interstate 40 in North Carolina

RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — Part of a major interstate had to close after a serious crash early Sunday morning in south Raleigh, according to police. A spokesperson from the Raleigh Police Department said officers responded to a crash just before 4 a.m. on I-40 East near exit 295 for Gorman Street. The spokesperson said two people have died as a result of this crash, 27-year-old Jonathan Perry Jr. and 37-year-old Alaina Mathews. Officers said in their investigation that the crash involved Perry's vehicle traveling the wrong way on I-40 East. Officers said Perry Jr. was operating a 2006 Lexus IS250 going westbound when he struck a 2024 Volkswagen Taos, operated by Mathews, traveling eastbound on I-40 East. "The preliminary investigation indicates that Mr. Perry turned right from Gorman Street traveling the wrong way up the interstate ramp onto I-40 eastbound," officers said in the new release. "Evidence on the scene suggests Ms. Mathews attempted to swerve to avoid just prior to impact." Officers also said Perry had the odor of alcohol coming from his person and an open container was located at his feet inside of the car at the scene of the crash. Test results from the Wake County Bureau of Forensic Services are still pending. For over 5 hours, I-40 East closed all lanes between exits 293/US-1 to 295 as emergency crews responded to the scene. CBS 17 was on the scene where emergency responders were directing traffic around the crash while investigators looked at the two heavily damaged vehicles. Drivers were safely directed to pass on the shoulder of the highway. According to the Raleigh Police Department, all lanes reopened around 9:45 a.m. after crews towed away the two bashed-in vehicles.