A child who died in a Friday morning traffic crash that began with a collision with a bear has been identified as 2-month-old Reginald Best from Halifax County.

The child, according to a report sent to state Highway Patrol headquarters, was the most severely injured passenger in the third crash caused by the initial collision.

The child was flown to Vidant Medical Center in Greenville in critical condition and died Sunday.

The chain of events began shortly after 12:45 Friday morning in the northbound lane of Interstate 95 near the 160-mile marker in the Enfield area when a motorist struck a bear.

The initial collision caused a second collision and then a third involving five passenger vehicles when William Castenedea, 58, of Elizabeth, New Jersey, allegedly failed to reduce speed in his tractor-trailer and plowed into the other vehicles.

Castenedea walked away from the crash without injuries but was arrested for DWI and felony injury. It is expected upon conference with the Halifax County District Attorney’s Office the felony injury charge will be upgraded.

Castenedea was released on $4,500 secured bond and has a November 7 court date.

Several other passengers from the multiple vehicle collision were taken to Halifax Regional Medical Center in Roanoke Rapids for treatment, according to the report.

The Highway Patrol declined to release blood alcohol content information on the driver. The threshold for commercial drivers is .04.