Troopers suspect drinking, speed in work zone crash that killed father of four

A construction worker was killed Wednesday when an SUV plowed into an active work zone on Interstate 40, crashing into equipment and closing multiple eastbound lanes.

Around 3 a.m., the Chevrolet SUV hit and killed 33-year-old C.J. Bryant before crashing into construction equipment near Exit 303 for Jones Sausage Road, according to the State Highway Patrol. The driver attempted to run from the scene on foot but was arrested.

Bryant worked for S.T. Wooten, a private construction company, and he was a father of four.

"Tragedies like what occurred today just break our heart," said Mark Ezzell, of the Governors Highway Safety Program.

Ezzell said that 171 people have been killed in work zones in North Carolina over the past four years. In Wake County in 2021, there were 1,376 work zone crashes, the highest of all the counties in the state.

"The fact of the matter is paying that extra care can make a difference," Ezzell said. "It can make a difference between life and death.

"We have to make sure drivers are aware. They have the onus to keep themselves, workers and other drivers safe. We have to constantly hammer the message home that you slow down and pay attention more than usual in work zone areas."

A coworker created a GoFundMe for Bryant. It raised more than $47,490 as of Thursday afternoon.

The driver of the SUV, Jeyson Alexander Murcia-Guillen, 20, of Smithfield, faces multiple charges, including felony death by vehicle, felony hit-and-run, failure to move over – injury/death, driving after consuming, no operator's license, careless and reckless driving to endanger, resisting, delaying, and/or obstructing a public officer, fictitious registration, operating a vehicle with no liability insurance and failure to maintain lane control.

Troopers believe speed and alcohol were involved.

One of Bryant's co-workers saw the crash. He did not want to give his name, but described the crash to WRAL News.

"A vehicle came into the job site and hit the foreman of the paving crew and sent him flying ... he got out of his vehicle and ran to the Jones Sausage offramp. The cops chased him and found him," the witness said.

Bryant's co-worker described him as a good, solid, working class man.

"People don’t have regard for the guys in the reflective vests," he said.

S.T. Wooten posted on Facebook hours after the crash, writing:

"C.J. was a hardworking leader at S.T. Wooten for the last 6 years. Starting as a foreman, he worked on several big jobs, including I-795, US 70, and another section of I-40 in Sampson County. He quickly became known for keeping his jobs ahead of schedule and always working to improve. He was promoted to superintendent in 2021, where he began overseeing multiple jobs. He was responsible for the big picture but still loved working on the jobsite with the crews and his fellow employees."

Three eastbound lanes on I-40 were closed for hours following the crash.

Sky 5 flew over the scene at 7:30 a.m., where a tow truck was removing the SUV. The doors of the SUV could be seen wide open, and the air bags were deployed.

Delays were beginning to improve at 7:30 a.m. as the accident was clearing.

Murcia-Guillen was being held at the Wake County Detention Center under a $1 million secured bond.