Jarin Brent Cull Killed in Benson Car Accident
17-year-old driver faces charges after pickup truck overturns on Interstate 40
Jarin Brent Cull, 56, was killed in a crash on Interstate 40 near the Interstate 95 ramp in Benson on Friday, according to the North Carolina State Highway Patrol.
The 17-year-old driver of the pickup truck faces charges of misdemeanor death by vehicle and failure to maintain lane control. Authorities are also seeking a search warrant for the teen's blood.
The eastbound Ford Ranger attempted to merge from the center lane into the right lane just before 4:30 p.m. and struck a Ford SUV. The impact caused the pickup to lose control, overturn and come to a stop in the median.
Cull, a passenger in the Ranger, was pronounced dead at the scene shortly after being pulled from the wreckage. Paramedics took the teen driver to WakeMed for treatment. The 25-year-old driver of the SUV was not reported injured.
The ramp from southbound I-95 to eastbound I-40 was closed for about 90 minutes.
According to the North Carolina Department of Transportation, 1,565 fatal crashes occurred statewide in 2023.
The sudden loss of a loved one in a crash involving criminal charges leaves families navigating both grief and a complex legal system. While the criminal case proceeds, civil avenues exist to hold at-fault drivers accountable.
Candice Bond, managing partner at Bond Legal, who is also a national legal analyst for Accident News, said, "After a fatal crash, surviving family members often struggle with insurance companies that dispute liability, delay responses, or offer inadequate settlements. An attorney communicates directly with insurers, challenges unfair tactics, and ensures families understand their rights before making decisions during an already overwhelming time."
Why did the Ford Ranger overturn on Interstate 40?
Investigators will examine the physical evidence at the mile marker 328 crash site, including tire marks, vehicle damage, and the speed of the Ford Ranger during the lane change.
"Physical evidence from a crash scene does not last forever. Skid marks fade, vehicles get repaired or scrapped, camera footage gets overwritten, and memories grow less reliable over time. Once that evidence is gone, it becomes much harder to piece together what really happened. Acting quickly makes a real difference," noted Stefano Formica, who serves as a national legal analyst for Accident News and is of counsel at Bond Legal. A parallel civil investigation can secure evidence before it is lost or destroyed.
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.