North Carolina

Law enforcement pursuits in central North Carolina draw attention to policies, bystander safety

Published

2 years ago

June 3, 2024

Law enforcement pursuits in central North Carolina draw attention to policies, bystander safety

DURHAM, N.C. (WTVD) — Holly Loftis was inside her home along US 501 in Person County on Monday afternoon when she heard a nearby street mentioned on her scanner.

“I came to my front door and by that time I’d seen (the vehicle) come rolling by with the officer behind him and then I heard a big boom, like bang. So, I walked out and the truck was rolling and the car had went down in the ditch,” Loftis said.

Person County Sheriff Jason Wilborn told ABC11 that it started when a driver pulled out of a nearby convenience store and nearly caused an accident. A deputy in the area tried to initiate a traffic stop, but the suspect drove off, leading to a pursuit that Wilborn said lasted less than two miles. The suspect’s vehicle collided with a bystander’s vehicle just before the Boston Road intersection, in which the suspect was ejected from the vehicle. As of Monday night, authorities have not released the names of either the suspect or bystander involved in the crash, though both were taken to a hospital.

The crash came just a day after a deadly pursuit in Wake County, in which an 18-year-old driver was reportedly driving 115 mph in a 70 mph zone on I-540 near Louisburg Road. Authorities said he ignored stop signs and crossed into oncoming traffic as he attempted to evade officers. After running a red light, he struck another vehicle traveling east on Zebulon Road near Louisburg Road and died from his injuries. The other driver was taken to WakeMed with what were described as non-life-threatening injuries.

“I can tell you with an ongoing pursuit, a continuing violation — reckless driving, suspected impaired driving — the continued danger to the public…the decision was made for deputies to continue to pursue,” Lt. Mike Fleer said.

These cases follow law enforcement pursuits in Lillington and Cumberland County, part of a pattern that has drawn attention. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 390 people in the state have died in crashes involving police pursuits between 1982 and 2020.

“There’s no doubt that police officers have an extremely difficult job. That’s why most of the policies say that you’re only supposed to initiate these chases under very extreme circumstances (such as) somebody’s got a gun and they’re shooting at people, (a suspect) robbed a bank, something like that. What happens is those rules get disobeyed, or they engage in chases where they get authorization from their department in situations where there is no danger to the public,” said Gary Mauney, a law partner with Mauney PLLC.

While bystanders injured in such chases can pursue civil damages, Mauney said they face challenging circumstances.

“Our appellate courts have interpreted the gross negligence standard as basically a “get-out-of-jail-free” card if you will, for police officers that are not even following their own policies,” said Mauney.

Mauney pointed to other states that have altered their gross negligence standard, making it easier for victims to move forward with cases.

“The cities and municipalities out there need to start taking responsibility when their officers don’t follow their own policies,” he said. “The cities that can waive immunity through the paths that the legislature has allowed, they need to do that and then they need to make it meaningful.”

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North Carolina

North Carolina is hot, dry, and about have fireworks everywhere. Why isn’t there a burn ban?

Published

10 hours ago

June 29, 2026

Press Room

North Carolina is hot, dry, and about have fireworks everywhere. Why isn’t there a burn ban?

Right now, it’s unmissable. North Carolina, and especially the Triangle, is both very hot, and very dry. Fireworks stands are popping up, just in time for the Fourth of July. So why isn’t the state under a burn ban?

It’s a straightforward question, with a complex answer.

Both the state, through the North Carolina Forest Service, and individual counties can declare burn bans. The vast majority of the time, county fire marshals listen to the Forest Service. And right now, the Forest Service says the danger isn’t great enough – yet.

“We’re still dry, fire danger is still high, but we haven’t reached that hazardous category yet,” said Phil Jackson, a Forest Service spokesperson.

Jackson points out that the state has two fire seasons, spring and fall, and conditions right now are very different.

For one, humidity is much higher right now, and humidity “tends to bring relief to fire risk and any ongoing wildfire activity that might be happening at that moment,” said Jackson.

Leaves are also key. In spring, plants are trying to wake up from their long winter sleep. Doing that requires a lot of water, drying out the soil.

“Think of each individual root system as being a straw that is just pulling water out of the ground,” said Jackson.

In the fall, the ground is covered in lots of new dry leaves, increasing the danger again.

“When they’re in full green, like they are now, they tend to be more fire resistant,” said Jackson.

Jackson points out it’s not impossible to have a summer-time burn ban. The Forest Service is constantly monitoring conditions, and it’s possible those conditions could get worse in the coming weeks. For now, though, the fire danger, Jackson says, is “manageable.”

But while the fire risk might be manageable, that doesn’t mean people should be careless.

“We always encourage residents to avoid outdoor burning, unless it’s absolutely necessary,” said Johnston County Fire Marshal Travis Johnson.

Johnson says, especially with the Fourth of July right around the corner, anyone burning or lighting fireworks should always have a source of water nearby to douse any runaway flames. “We never want anything to happen, but want to make sure that you’re safe while using those,” said Johnson.

If a burn ban were to be implemented, it would impact Fourth of July fireworks shows. For now, though, those shows are allowed to go ahead, and remain the best option, Johnson says, for anyone who wants to see fireworks this year.

Johnson, and other fire marshals WRAL spoke with, also stressed official fireworks shows are put on by professionals, are strictly permitted and regulated, and there are always firefighters there, on standby, just in case.

“Just be safe, and enjoy the holidays,” said Johnson.

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North Carolina

Man killed, teenager hurt after wrong-way crash in Caldwell County

Published

20 hours ago

June 29, 2026

Press Room

Man killed, teenager hurt after wrong-way crash in Caldwell County

The video above is a live stream of WBTV and affiliated programming, and may not be directly related to the article below.

GRANITE FALLS, N.C. (WBTV) – A man was killed and a teenager was hurt after a head-on crash in Caldwell County on Sunday.

The deadly crash happened along Highway 321 near Glenn Ridge Drive in Granite Falls, just before 7:45 p.m. on June 28.

North Carolina state troopers said 65-year-old Marvin Wayne Anderson was driving the wrong way on Highway 321 when he crashed head-on into an 18-year-old.

Troopers said Anderson died on the highway, while the teenager was taken to a nearby hospital with minor injuries.

Highway Patrol said its initial investigation did not find speed or impairment to have been factors in the wreck. Troopers did not say why or how Anderson ended up on the wrong side of the road.

The crash reportedly shut Highway 321 down for several hours but it has since reopened.

Also Read: Mail worker killed in broad daylight in rural North Carolina, officials say

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North Carolina

NC Lottery Pick 3 Day, Pick 3 Evening results for June 28, 2026

Published

1 day ago

June 29, 2026

Press Room

The NC Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.

Here’s a look at Sunday, June 28, 2026 results for each game:

Winning Pick 3 numbers from June 28 drawing

Day: 2-0-8, Fireball: 7

Evening: 4-1-9, Fireball: 1

Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 4 numbers from June 28 drawing

Day: 7-7-6-5, Fireball: 4

Evening: 8-6-1-5, Fireball: 0

Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash 5 numbers from June 28 drawing

06-08-11-16-37

Check Cash 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Double Play numbers from June 28 drawing

02-03-10-15-39

Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from June 28 drawing

04-11-31-54-58, Bonus: 03

Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize

All North Carolina Lottery retailers will redeem prizes up to $599.

For prizes over $599, winners can submit winning tickets through the mail or in person at North Carolina Lottery Offices. By mail, send a prize claim form, your signed lottery ticket, copies of a government-issued photo ID and social security card to: North Carolina Education Lottery, P.O. Box 41606, Raleigh, NC 27629. Prize claims less than $600 do not require copies of photo ID or a social security card.

To submit in person, sign the back of your ticket, fill out a prize claim form and deliver the form, along with your signed lottery ticket and government-issued photo ID and social security card to any of these locations:

Asheville Regional Office & Claim Center: 16-G Regent Park Blvd., Asheville, NC 28806, 877-625-6886 press #1. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $99,999.
Greensboro Regional Office & Claim Center: 20A Oak Branch Drive, Greensboro, NC 27407, 877-625-6886 press #2. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $99,999.
Charlotte Regional Office & Claim Center: 5029-A West W. T. Harris Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28269-1861, 877-625-6886 press #3. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $99,999.
NC Lottery Headquarters: Raleigh Claim Center & Regional Office, 2728 Capital Blvd., Suite 144, Raleigh, NC 27604, 877-625-6886 press #4. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes of any amount.
Greenville Regional Office & Claim Center: 2790 Dickinson Avenue, Suite A, Greenville, NC 27834, 877-625-6886 press #5. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $99,999.
Wilmington Regional Office & Claim Center: 123 North Cardinal Drive Extension, Suite 140, Wilmington, NC 28405, 877-625-6886 press #6. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $99,999.

Check previous winning numbers and payouts at https://nclottery.com/.

When are the North Carolina Lottery drawings held?

Powerball: 10:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 11 p.m. Tuesday and Friday.
Lucky for Life: 10:38 p.m. daily.
Pick 3, 4: 3:00 p.m. and 11:22 p.m. daily.
Cash 5: 11:22 p.m. daily.
Millionaire for Life: 11:15 p.m. daily.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Carolina Connect editor. You can send feedback using this form.

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