A North Carolina man who was arrested last year in connection with a murder on Mammoth Drive in Fayetteville has charges pending in another person’s death after a serious car crash in Spring Lake just before midnight on Saturday.
2012 Acura going 110 MPH
North Carolina State Highway Patrol said one of their troopers clocked 25-year-old Darren Lyndell Obatala Powell going 110 mph on NC-87 in Harnett County when the trooper tried to stop Powell, but he refused.
Troopers said the Acura crashed into a Honda Accord as it was making a left turn from NC-87 onto McKenzie Road. Subsequently, the Acura careened into a nearby utility pole and caught fire. The crash happened near the intersection of North Bragg Boulevard and McKenzie Road.
Passenger in Honda Accord dies at the scene
According to troopers, Powell and the driver of the Honda Accord were rushed to a nearby hospital, while the passenger of the Honda died at the scene. Troopers have not yet released their identity. Powell was identified as the driver, and troopers believe he was intoxicated when the crash occurred.
Woman shot on Mammoth Drive in Fayetteville
On July 12, 2023, Fayetteville police arrested Powell in connection to the murder of Barbara Mitchell Adair. Police said they responded to the 500 block address for a child custody matter when they received a call about shots being fired. Upon arrival, police found Adair with a gunshot wound.
She was taken to the hospital, where she later died.
Police said Powell and another man, Hakeem Sincere Jessel Wilson, 24, of Fayetteville, were responsible. They were both charged with one count of first-degree murder and two counts of attempted first-degree murder.
Powell was released from jail on that charge in October 2023, on a $350,000 bond.
