A crash near the Orange County-Person County border left three people in the hospital during North Carolina Central University’s homecoming celebrations last night, officials said. The North Carolina State Highway Patrol reported that an SUV carrying eight people hit a parked, empty vehicle and flipped over around 8:30 p.m yesterday on Gray Road. Police believe alcohol might have played a role, and the driver is expected to face DWI charges, FOX8 reported.
The party drew a huge crowd to a nearby private property and resulted in a crash that injured four people. It’s not yet confirmed whether the victims are students, and NC Central said they do not have that information. The size of the party caused major traffic problems, with tow trucks removing illegally parked cars and residents expressing frustration. “It has been insane with all the cars and people,” an unnamed local resident told WRAL News.
Aerial footage from Chopper 11 showed the large scale of the off-campus celebration, with authorities intervening to shut down the event due to safety concerns. Thousands were left stranded, trying to navigate dark county roads or retrieving their towed vehicles, according to ABC11. This action follows previous incidents that have affected the university’s reputation, including two unrelated shootings during last year’s homecoming, which led the institution to increase security measures for such events…