Mother, 11-year-old die after Jeep collides with dump truck in Benson on Friday
A mother and her daughter were killed when a Jeep they were in was struck by a dump truck along a North Carolina highway, according to the State Highway Patrol.
Sgt. Christopher Knox said they were among five occupants of the Jeep during the Friday wreck.
Kiara Shalimar Guadalupe-Mercado, 30, of Fayetteville, was traveling west on Dragstrip Road in Benson when she reportedly ran a stop sign at the intersection of the road and NC 242, Knox said.
The Jeep was then hit by a Kenworth dump truck traveling south on the highway, he said.
Jenniffer Camilo-Melendez, 37, and her 11-year-old daughter were sitting in the backseat of the Jeep at the time of the crash. The child was ejected from the car, Knox said.
Neither were wearing seatbelts, Knox said.
Another child sitting in the backseat of the Jeep was ejected during the crash. He was taken to WakeMed Raleigh with life-threatening injuries, Knox said. His status is unknown.
Joel Guadalupe-Figuera, 48, another passenger, was injured and taken to WakeMed Raleigh for treatment, Knox said.
The identity of the children is not being released due to their age, authorities said.
The driver of the dump truck was identified as Nikin Henry, 28, Knox said.
Guadalupe-Mercado suffered minor injuries and was taken to the hospital for treatment.
She has been charged with two counts of misdemeanor death by vehicle, two counts of child restraint violation, and a failure to stop at a stop sign.
A GoFundMe has been set up to help support the family of Camilo-Melendez.
This is a developing story.
This story was originally published April 16, 2023 at 4:58 PM.