The North Carolina State Highway Patrol has announced the arrest of Rigoberto Gonzalez Martinez, 43, from Candler, on multiple charges following a fatal DUI crash.
According to investigators, the incident occurred around 2:30 a.m. on September 14, 2025. Gonzalez Martinez’s 2008 Toyota pickup truck reportedly crossed the center line on U.S. 19 in Candler and collided head-on with a 2010 Ford driven by Patricia Ann Cole, aged 33. Cole died at the scene. Gonzalez Martinez fled but was later apprehended by law enforcement officials. Troopers say his blood alcohol content measured at 0.18, more than twice North Carolina’s legal limit of 0.08. He is currently held at the Buncombe County Detention Facility under a $25,000 bond pending a court hearing scheduled for November 21.
Felony death by vehicle is classified as a Class D felony in North Carolina and can result in a prison sentence of up to 204 months if aggravating factors are proven under the state’s structured sentencing guidelines. Data from the North Carolina Department of Public Safety indicates that there were 270 alcohol-related fatalities on state highways in 2024, marking an increase from the previous year.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that alcohol-impaired driving fatalities accounted for 31% of all U.S. traffic deaths in 2023. The agency noted over 13,500 deaths nationwide linked to drivers with a blood alcohol content of 0.08 or higher, highlighting the ongoing public safety challenge posed by impaired driving.
The North Carolina State Highway Patrol was established in 1929 and is headquartered in Raleigh as part of the North Carolina Department of Public Safety. Its mission includes ensuring highway safety through law enforcement, education, and accident prevention across an extensive road network spanning approximately 80,000 miles within the state. The Patrol employs over 1,600 sworn officers and is recognized for its traffic enforcement and crash response programs aimed at reducing roadway fatalities.
