FROM STAFF REPORTS

A motorist who crashed his vehicle into a FedEx truck, killing a passenger, while fleeing a state trooper in Statesville on Tuesday morning faces multiple charges.

The N.C. State Highway Patrol announced the arrest of Ridge Rashaun Gay, 27, of Fayetteville on Tuesday evening.

A trooper stopped to check on two individuals who were replacing a flat tire on a Hyundai Elantra on Interstate 40 about 9 a.m., according to the NCSHP.

The individuals provided false identifications to the trooper, and further investigation revealed the passenger may have been wanted, authorities said.

While the trooper was checking on warrants, Gay drove off, heading east on I-40, the NCSHP said.

The trooper pursued the Elantra east on the interstate before the vehicle took Exit 150 toward N.C. Highway 115 in Statesville. At the bottom of the exit ramp, the Elantra crashed into the rear end of the FedEx truck.

A passenger in the Hyundai, identified as 28-year-old Keonte Shakir Forney, was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the NCSHP.

Gay was taken into custody and was treated at a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Gay has been charged with felony flee to elude arrest, felony death by vehicle, reckless driving, driving while license revoked, fail to heed to light and siren, fail to stop for red light, failure to reduce speed and fail to maintain lane control.