A Liberty man is facing several charges following a vehicle chase with law enforcement that spanned two counties and resulted in a fatal wreck at a Wilmington intersection Tuesday morning.
Eduard Patrick, 26, was charged with misdemeanor death by vehicle and felony hit and run after a wreck at the intersection of Kerr Avenue and South College Road Tuesday morning, according to N.C. State Highway Patrol Sgt. Michael Baker.
Just after 7 a.m. Tuesday, troopers attempted to stop Patrick for speeding as he drove a 2013 Toyota headed east on U.S. 74 in Brunswick County. Baker said the trooper believed Patrick was driving at 79 mph in the 55 mph zone. When Patrick did not stop, troopers pursued him in a vehicle chase that led into Wilmington.
Patrick was headed east on Kerr Avenue and, Baker said, he did not stop for a red light at the road’s intersection with South College Road. When Patrick entered the intersection, his car plowed into a 2007 Honda motorcycle at about 7:19 a.m. Tuesday, killing the driver – 38-year-old Shaun R.J. Murdock of Wilmington – at the scene.
Patrick continued to drive east on Kerr Avenue, Baker said. A trooper chased the vehicle and performed a PIT maneuver (precision immobilization technique) – a pursuit tactic used by law enforcement to force a fleeing car to abruptly turn sideways, causing the driver lose control and stop – in the area of MacMillan Avenue and Pine Grove Drive. Patrick was taken into custody without further incident.
Patrick also faces charges of speeding, reckless driving and felony speed to elude arrest, Baker said. He was booked at the New Hanover County Jail under a $250,000 secured bond.
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