About two hours later, as officers investigated that accident, a second crash in the same spot left a car totaled and a police officer slightly injured.

Police said a southbound vehicle driven by Teodoro Gomez of Durham crossed the center line and collided with a northbound vehicle driven by Joseph Lester Jr. of Roxboro shortly before 1 a.m.

A passenger in Lester's vehicle, Clara Lester of Roxboro, was killed. Joseph Lester was hospitalized with injuries that were not considered life-threatening, police said.

Gomez was reported in critical condition at Duke University Hospital. No charges have been filed; the crash is being investigated.

About 3 a.m., while officers were looking into the first accident, police Cpl. J.D. Piatt parked his patrol car across the southbound lanes to block the road. The patrol car's emergency lights were on and there were flares on the road nearby.

Nonetheless, a southbound 1992 Buick driven by Bobby Clayton of Warsaw ran into the left side of the patrol car.

Piatt suffered a minor head injury. Clayton was not injured.

The Buick was a total loss, and the patrol car sustained approximately $8,000 in damage, police said. Clayton was charged with failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident.