A front seat passenger died and the driver is in critical condition at ECU Medical Center in Greenville after a crash this morning on Interstate 95.

A Halifax County Sheriff’s Office deputy had clocked the Dodge Charger at a speed of around 117 miles per hour in the southbound lane of I-95 in the Enfield area .

Trooper J.T. Keeter of the North Carolina State Highway Patrol said after initial investigation the contributing factor in the crash was speed and careless and reckless driving which claimed the life of Tylon Jordan and left the driver, Chrishawn Johnson, in critical condition. Both men are 29 and from Fayetteville.

Keeter was dispatched to the scene at the 160.5 mile marker around 2:30 and his initial investigation shows that the Charger traveled off the roadway to the right, collided with a guardrail and overturned several times. He said it is estimated the vehicle was traveling over 100 miles per hour when it struck the guardrail.

Both Jordan and Johnson were ejected, the sheriff’s office said. Two other passengers in the rear are in stable condition at ECU North.

Keeter said the sheriff’s office is handling charges associated with the driving infractions.

Sheriff Tyree Davis said charges will be filed.

Captain Scott Hall of the sheriff’s office said in a statement the events that led to the crash began around 2 this morning when Deputy D. Harrison was running radar and clocked the Charger at a speed of 117 near the 169 mile marker.

Harrison initiated a traffic stop for the violation and the driver turned off the lights and fled southbound on the interstate. 

Harrison pursued behind the vehicle until he saw the vehicle collide with a guard rail and flip multiple times.

Davis said it was unclear why the driver was speeding and why he did not stop when the deputy attempted to initiate a stop.