3 Fort Bragg soldiers killed, one critically hurt in Apex crash
Speed sent an Infiniti off U.S. 1 near Apex just after 12:28 a.m., killing three Fort Bragg soldiers and leaving a fourth in critical condition.
A late-night crash on northbound U.S. 1 southwest of Apex shut down part of one of Wake County’s busiest corridors and left three Fort Bragg soldiers dead. Troopers said the Infiniti was traveling between Friendship Road and NC 540 Toll when it ran off the right side of the highway, overturned several times and turned a routine drive into a fatal wreck.
North Carolina State Highway Patrol troopers said they were notified just after 12:28 a.m. Saturday, June 13, 2026. Speed was a factor, and investigators said the driver lost control before the car left the roadway. Two of the three men who died were ejected from the vehicle, while the third was found still inside.
The fourth occupant survived and was taken to WakeMed Raleigh Campus in critical condition. WRAL later reported the survivor was in serious but stable condition. Responders remained on scene for about four hours, and the right lane of U.S. 1 near Friendship Road was closed for several hours, adding a long disruption to a stretch that funnels traffic through southern Wake County and the Apex area.
Troopers later identified the driver as Darius Josiah Stevens, 21, of Spring Lake. The passengers who died were identified as Ricky Rosas and Marion Kim, 19, of Jacinto, California. Troopers said there was no indication of impairment, although an autopsy would still be needed.
The wreck carried added weight because all four occupants were stationed at Fort Bragg. That military link has sharpened attention on the crash beyond Apex, especially as Wake and surrounding counties continue to see deadly high-speed wrecks on major routes. U.S. 1, particularly near the NC 540 interchange, is a fast-moving corridor where even a brief mistake can have devastating consequences.
The crash also fits a troubling recent pattern involving Fort Bragg soldiers in central North Carolina. A separate February 2026 wreck in Harnett County killed two soldiers and another person, underscoring how often late-night travel, speed and high-volume highways are combining with deadly results across the region.
This article was produced by Prism’s automated news system from verified source data, official records, and press releases, then run through automated quality and moderation checks before publishing. The system is built and supervised by the people who set the standards it runs under. Read our full AI policy.
Did this article answer your question?
