Teen charged in wreck that killed passenger, injured six others

SUPPLY, NC (WWAY) — A 17-year-old boy has been charged in the crash that killed one of his passengers and injured six others early Sunday morning.

The Highway Patrol says after meeting with the Brunswick County District Attorney, investigators charged Joshua Coleman with misdemeanor death by motor vehicle after driving left of center and two violations of the Graduated Driver's License. Those violations are because Coleman was driving after 9 p.m. without a supervising driver and exceeding the passenger limit, investigators say. 

Coleman's license has a restriction that only lets him have one passenger in his car under the age of 21 unless they are immediate family or unless he's accompanied by a supervising driver. This restriction includes an allowed time period for unsupervised driving between the hours of 5 a.m. and 9 p.m.

Investigators say Coleman and seven other teens were in a pick-up truck early Sunday morning when it veered off Holden Beach Road near Supply. Tyrus Johnston, 17, who was one of three passengers in the bed of the truck, died in the crash. Coleman and the others were all injured.

In a 911 call after the crash, Coleman told a dispatcher he fell asleep while driving.

All the children involved in the crash were ROTC classmates at West Brunswick High School.