Man charged after collision kills grandmother and teen, injures 2 in Smithfield

Smithfield police have charged a man in a Sunday night collision that killed two people and sent two teens to the hospital.

Felix Antonio Juarez-Antunez was driving a Toyota with one passenger when he struck a Dodge minivan with four people at about 10:30 p.m. at or near the intersection of Wilsons Mills Road and M. Durwood Stephenson Highway, according to a Smithfield Police Department news release.

Juarez-Antunez, 34, of Smithfield, was charged with felony death by vehicle and three counts of felony serious injury by vehicle. Police think alcohol was involved and more charges are likely, the release said.

The crash killed the driver of the other vehicle, Marjory Howell Wagner Regan, 65, of Selma, as well as a 15-year-old boy, Ethan Michael Handly of Smithfield, WRAL reported.

It also injured 15-year-old Hailey Wagner and 14-year-old Stephen Wagner, Regan’s grandchildren, according to WRAL.

Hailey Wagner was recently crowned Miss Garner Outstanding Teen, The News & Observer’s media partner, ABC11 reported.

Juarez-Antunez was traveling at 110 mph in a 45 mph zone, WRAL reported, citing a police report. He tried to brake but hit the back of Regan’s car at 90 mph while it was stopped at a red light, according to WRAL.

Juarez-Antunez is being held on $350,000 bail.

Police said U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement placed an immigration detainer on Juarez-Antunez, ABC11 reported.

That means ICE has requested the Johnston County Detention Center to hold Juarez-Antunez for up to 48 business hours beyond the time he is supposed to be released and ICE has determined him to be a “foreign national subject to removal from the United States,” according to an ICE spokesman.

Capt. Ryan Sheppard said the department is continuing to investigate the fatal collision.

This story was originally published November 11, 2019 at 1:36 PM.