MARSTON — An alleged impaired driver is responsible for a wreck that killed three people late Friday morning, according to Richmond County Jail records.
Hunter Andrew Austin, 25, is charged by the N.C. State Highway Patrol with three counts of felony death by vehicle and one count of driving while impaired, records show.
Austin is also charged with two felony counts of serious injury by vehicle.
He was booked at 5:16 p.m. Nov. 13, where he is being held under a combined $261,000 secured bond.
No information about the wreck has been released from the Highway Patrol, including the names of the victims.
The RO learned from Hoffman Fire Chief Frank McKay that three vehicles were involved — a van and two cars. Two of the victims who died were in one car and the third was in the other car. In total, seven people were involved.
Online court records show Austin has no other pending charges in Richmond County or the state.
Austin was given probation in November 2019 when convicted of misdemeanor breaking and entering, according to records with the N.C. Department of Public Safety Division of Adult Correction.
He was also convicted in November 2015 of misdemeanor larceny.
All defendants facing criminal charges are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
