City
man faces murder charge in fatal accident
Second-degree
murder and other charges filed
By
SUE THACKERAY
Herald
Staff Writer
SANFORD
- A city man is facing second-degree murder charges following a wreck on N.C. 87
South Monday night that killed a Fayetteville man.
Dale
Reece Hardee, 28, of 7128 N.C. 87 South, was driving a 1999 Ford Expedition
north on N.C. 87 at approximately 8:20 p.m. Monday. Just south of the J-Mart, he
crossed the center turn lane, entered the southbound lanes and collided head-on
with another vehicle, said Trooper Mike Moretz, of the N.C. Highway Patrol.
Hardee
allegedly told troopers that he was using his cellular telephone when the
accident occurred. Moretz said his blood alcohol level was also over the legal
limit of .08.
Hardee's
vehicle struck a 1995 Buick driven by Stanley Eugene Zuravel, 63, of
Fayetteville. Zuravel was killed instantly, Moretz said, and had to be removed
from the vehicle by members of the Lee County Rescue Squad using the Jaws of
Life.
Zuravel's
wife, Roberta, was a passenger in the vehicle. She was treated and released from
Central Carolina Hospital.
Both
Stanley and Roberta Zuravel, as well as Hardee, were wearing seatbelts at the
time of the crash, Moretz said. There were no passengers in Hardee's vehicle.
The
wreck tied up traffic on N.C. 87 for several hours as rescue workers directed
traffic through one lane of the five-lane highway. According to Moretz, debris
from the accident was scattered along a 100-yard long stretch of roadway. Moretz
estimated that Hardee's vehicle was traveling about 65 mph when the wreck
occurred. He said the Zuravel vehicle was traveling about 55 mph. The speed
limit on N.C. 87 is 55 mph.
Hardee was arrested at the scene, taken to Central Carolina Hospital for treatment of a head wound, and placed in Lee County Jail on charges of second degree murder, driving while impaired and driving left of center. He was released on a $20,000 secured bond.