Police are investigating a fatal crash on the Durham Freeway Saturday morning.
19-year-old Samuel Salinas-Salinas is charged with felony death by vehicle, driving while impaired, and driving after consuming alcohol under the age of 21.
According to Durham Police, Salinas-Salinas was driving a 2007 Chevrolet Suburban northbound around 4:00 a.m. at a “high rate of speed.”
Police say he tried to avoid a 2006 Ford F-150 that was preparing to take exit 3B, and he collided with the car.
The car Salinas-Salinas was driving lost control, hit the guardrail, and flipped several times.
Josh Rodriguez-Higinio was in the third row of the car. He was ejected and later pronounced dead at the hospital.
His family has now started a GoFundMe for his funeral.
They say Rodriguez-Higinio was a beloved younger brother and uncle, who loved working on cars and hoped to go to college for welding.
In a search warrant for Salinas-Salinas’ blood, Durham Police say he told responding officers he was operating the vehicle at the time of the crash and admitted to consuming alcohol.
In that warrant, the officer writes that hospital staff informed officers, “an initial blood draw at the hospital indicated a blood alcohol concentration of 0.17.”
Salinas-Salinas was given a bond of $50,000 and has bonded out. His next court date is later this month.