Police file charges in fatal crash that killed two women in Durham

The Durham Police Department has filed charges in a car crash that killed two women on Oct. 28.

Three days after the crash, police identified the deceased victims as Cornisha Shaw, 24, and Courtney Simms, 23. Both women were from Durham and were passengers in the car.

On Tuesday, Nov. 8, police filed charges against Armonta Lamont Tyler, 26, of Durham, who was the driver of the vehicle in this crash. Charges include: two counts of felony death by motor vehicle, two counts of assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury, DWI, reckless driving and speeding.

At 11:49 p.m. on the night of the crash, Durham police said a 2017 Audi was traveling south on Fayetteville Street near Timothy Avenue when it “ran off the road and struck a tree.”

The unidentified driver was transported to a local hospital and treated for “life-threatening injuries,” Durham police said.

Shaw and Simms were pronounced dead at the scene.

According to the preliminary investigation, Durham police said in a statement, “Speed does appear to be a factor in this crash.”

This story was originally published October 31, 2022 at 5:57 PM.