Chandler Hodge Killed in Raleigh DUI Tow Truck Accident
Tow truck driver with revoked license charged in deadly Capital Boulevard collision
Chandler Hodge, 35, was killed in a suspected DUI crash at Capital Boulevard and Trawick Road in Raleigh, North Carolina, early Friday, according to the Raleigh Police Department.
Allan Guerrero, 39, was arrested at the scene and charged with aggravated felony death by vehicle, three counts of felony serious injury by vehicle, and driving while impaired.
He is being held at the Wake County jail on a $500,000 bond.
The southbound tow truck ran a red light while making a left turn, entering the path of oncoming traffic around 2:36 a.m. The truck collided with two motorcycles and a sedan. Hodge, who was riding one of the motorcycles, died at the scene. The second motorcyclist and two people inside the sedan were taken to a hospital for treatment.
Guerrero, who owns 6G Towing and Recovery, was operating the vehicle with a revoked license. Records show he has three prior drunk driving convictions.
Several lanes were shut down as investigators processed the scene.
Additional charges against the driver include resisting an officer and disorderly conduct.
Why did the tow truck run the red light on Capital Boulevard?
The tragic loss of Hodge highlights the devastating consequences of impaired driving, especially when vehicles are involved. While criminal charges address the state's case against the driver, families of victims often seek parallel civil accountability.
Candice Bond, managing partner at Bond Legal, said, "Blood-alcohol analysis and toxicology findings frequently reveal impairment levels that completely contradict a driver's statements to police, creating critical evidentiary advantages for affected families pursuing accountability."
"Legal teams examining these technical results alongside video surveillance, cell phone records, and witness testimony can build compelling documentation of reckless behavior, which strengthens negotiations with insurance carriers and protects against liability denials," added Bond, who is also a national legal analyst for Accident News.
According to the official 2023 North Carolina Traffic Crash Facts report published by the NCDMV, there were 411 fatalities resulting from alcohol-impaired driving crashes across the state.
What are the legal rights of victims in North Carolina DUI crashes?
In cases involving entities like towing companies, liability can extend beyond the individual driver to the business itself, particularly if the driver was operating with a suspended license.
North Carolina wrongful death statute
Under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 28A-18-2, surviving family members may file a wrongful death action. North Carolina applies contributory negligence. The statute of limitations is 2 years.
Recoverable damages may include loss of financial support, loss of services and companionship, funeral expenses, and the estate's losses.
"We understand just what families are forced to go through, and having their rights protected is vital," noted Stefano Formica, a national legal analyst for Accident News and of counsel at Bond Legal.