Raleigh Police Charge Driver in Fatal Capital Boulevard Hit-and-Run

Key points

• The crash occurred at 3:33 a.m. on Saturday at the intersection of Capital Boulevard and Durant Road in Raleigh.
• Victim Anas’jah Sharnae Leak, 25, was walking with another person on or near the shoulder when she was struck by a 2016 Dodge Challenger.
• Driver Tyrone Jamaal Jackson, 35, of Morrisville, left the scene but was stopped later on NC 98 East by a Wake Forest police officer.
• The officer stopped Jackson due to visible vehicle damage and expired registration; Raleigh police confirmed the car’s involvement in the crash.
• Jackson was charged with felony hit-and-run and misdemeanor death by motor vehicle.

Background

This incident adds to a series of recent pedestrian fatalities in hit-and-run cases across the United States, including incidents in Portland, Chicago, and Clermont County, highlighting ongoing concerns regarding driver accountability and pedestrian safety.

How outlets are covering it

WRAL reported the initial fatal crash and the victim’s death on scene, urging the public to provide information. The Raleigh News & Observer provided detailed follow-up, identifying the victim and the charged suspect, and detailing the specific circumstances of the driver’s arrest by a Wake Forest officer. Both sources agree on the time, location, and fatal outcome, but the News & Observer offers the specific charges and the mechanism of the suspect’s capture, which WRAL did not initially detail.

Why it matters

The case underscores the severity of hit-and-run laws in North Carolina and the critical role of inter-agency cooperation, as a Wake Forest officer’s observation of vehicle damage led to the apprehension of a suspect who had fled a Raleigh crime scene.

What to watch

Jackson will face court proceedings for the felony and misdemeanor charges. Police may continue to seek additional information from the public regarding the incident, though the suspect has already been charged.