In The News

Driver now faces murder charge after crash

STATESVILLE, N.C. — A truck driver involved in a fatal collision Oct. 8 is now facing a murder charge.

Eduardo Lugo, 52, of Conover, N.C., was served with a warrant Wednesday charging him with second-degree murder.

Lugo was initially charged with driving while impaired and felony death by motor vehicle after a crash that claimed the life of Patricia Carter, 52, of Statesville.

Statesville Interim Police Chief Tom Anderson said the decision was made to upgrade the charges after consulting with the district attorney's office and reviewing evidence from the crash.

Lugo was driving a tractor-trailer on Garner Bagnal Boulevard. It collided with an SUV driven by Carter.

Carter was attempting to turn onto Garner Bagnal from Wall Street when Lugo ran a red light, Anderson said.

Police obtained a search warrant to seize an electronic module in the truck that details speed and other factors.

Lugo was taken to the police department Wednesday, processed and then taken before the magistrate, where his bond was increased from $101,000 to $301,000.

Anderson said Lugo had one previous driving while impaired charge, in either 1984 or 1985.

His blood-alcohol level at the time of the crash was .24, which is six times the legal threshold for the operator of a commercial motor vehicle.