KENLY, N.C. — A late-night crash near Kenly has left one man dead and another facing serious felony charges after authorities say he fled the scene before being captured nearby. The collision occurred around midnight on Saturday along Weaver Road, just off U.S. Highway 301, according to the North Carolina Highway Patrol.
Troopers reported that a vehicle driven by 22-year-old Vicencio Pineda, of Apex, veered off the roadway and slammed into a tree, causing severe damage. When emergency crews arrived, they found the passenger, 27-year-old Jesus Marico-Delgado, of Bear Creek, pinned inside the wreckage. Despite efforts to save him, Marico-Delgado was pronounced dead at the scene due to his injuries.
Authorities said Pineda fled on foot immediately after the crash, prompting a multi-agency search involving the Johnston County Sheriff’s Office and the Kenly Police Department. He was located roughly half a mile from the scene and transported to a nearby hospital for treatment of injuries sustained during the crash. Once released from medical care, he was taken into custody.
On Monday, officials confirmed that Pineda has been charged with Felony Death by Motor Vehicle and Felony Hit and Run Involving Serious Injury. Investigators believe speed and possible impairment may have contributed to the crash, though the official cause remains under investigation. The Highway Patrol’s Reconstruction Unit is working to determine the exact sequence of events leading up to the fatal collision.
Law enforcement officials emphasized the seriousness of leaving the scene of a crash, especially one resulting in a death. “Running away only makes a tragic situation worse,” one investigator noted. “It delays help for those who need it most and adds criminal consequences for the driver.”
Friends and family of Jesus Marico-Delgado are now mourning his sudden and heartbreaking loss. Loved ones described him as a hardworking and caring individual whose life was cut short far too soon. As the investigation continues, community members are urging drivers to make safer choices behind the wheel and to remember the lasting pain such incidents leave behind.