FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. — Fayetteville Police took a man into custody Tuesday nearly a month after they say he caused a crash that killed five people.
Terek Rashad Johnson, 22, was detained Tuesday after he was released from UNC Hospitals in Chapel Hill.
Johnson was charged with five counts of involuntary manslaughter, two counts of felony serious injury by motor vehicle – driving while impaired, driving while impaired, reckless driving to endanger the public, driving left of center, and unsafe tires.
Johnson is being held at the Cumberland County Detention Center on a $522,000 secured bond.
A total of eight people were involved in the June 29 three-vehicle crash at Cliffdale Road and Lynhurst Drive, authorities said.
Johnson, of Fayetteville, was driving a 2000 Ford Mustang when it was involved in the collision. Police said Johnson had alcohol in his system at the time of the crash.
Four passengers in the Mustang died.
Police identified those passengers as:
Kassandra Nicole Taylor Jones, 17
Latisha Allen, 33
Antonio Dewan Allen, 24
Cassandra Bravo, 15
Shannah Botts, who was in another car, was the fifth person who died in the crash.
Lesly Williams, 22, of Autryville was riding in the backseat of the Mustang. Williams is in serious but stable condition at Cape Fear Valley Medical Center.
Police confirmed those in the Mustang were coming from a pool party and were in bathing suits. The passengers were not carrying IDs, making it difficult to identify them.
Dadrian Thomas was driving a Crown Victoria involved. He was treated and released at Cape Fear Valley Medical Center.
Police said Shannah Botts, the 33-year-old mother of three, was behind the wheel of her green Kia when the Mustang slammed into her.
Thomas’ Crown Victoria was driving west on Cliffdale Road alongside Botts’ Kia. Both were traveling at about the posted speed limit of 45 mph, police said.
Johnson’s Mustang was traveling at a high rate of speed east on Cliffdale Road when he lost control and turned sideways, officials say.
The Mustang hit the Kia, became airborne and then hit the Crown Victoria on the driver’s side.
The Mustang landed on its roof in the westbound lanes.
Botts’ Kia stopped in the center turn lane with the Crown Victoria coming to a rest partially in the westbound right hand straight lane and partially on the sidewalk, police said.
“It was terrible. It was just kind of devastating,” said Lolandra Williams.
She lived next door to the Allens. She said they lost their mother just a couple weeks ago.
Williams also said she saw both the victims the day of the crash.
“I remember them leaving and all of them piling in that car like that,” Williams said.