IREDELL COUNTY, N.C. — A father of four was killed in a collision Friday morning on Interstate 40, and troopers said the driver who caused it was impaired by alcohol.
Kevin Guadalupe-Quintana, 28, of Mount Airy, was charged with felony death by motor vehicle after allegedly crashing into a disabled pickup truck, troopers said.
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The collision in Iredell County killed Ernest Duncan Ames IV, 45, of Hickory, who was inside the parked vehicle at the time of the impact. Ames has four children.
According to the North Carolina State Highway Patrol, the crash occurred just after 3:30 a.m. near the Cool Springs Road bridge. Investigators stated that Guadalupe-Quintana appeared to be exceeding the posted speed limit and was under the influence of alcohol when his truck hit Ames’ vehicle.
Guadalupe-Quintana was driving a 2021 Ram 3500 when it collided with a 2002 Ram 1500 that was disabled in the emergency lane, troopers said. Ames was driving his son and his son’s girlfriend back from Raleigh when the truck ran out of gas along the interstate, family members said.
Ames was in the rear cab when the impact happened in the emergency lane. He was ejected and succumbed to his injuries at the scene. The two passengers were hurt. The girlfriend remained in a hospital on Friday afternoon. Ames’ son is recovering at home.
Ames worked in construction and was well known in the area. Family was the most important part of his life.
“(Ames was) one of those guys you could count on,” said Larry Brogdon, father-in-law. “If you needed something done, he’d do it for you. He loved his family and loved his kids, loved his wife. And a sad situation. He was helping someone out, and it cost him his life.”
State troopers arrested Guadalupe-Quintana at the scene following the initial investigation. In addition to the felony death by motor vehicle charge, reckless driving, and failure to to maintain lane control.
Brogdon has a message for people who get behind the wheel while impaired.
“You have to learn to be accountable and understand that it’s not just your life at stake, it’s other people’s lives at stake when you decide to drink and drive. And please don’t do it,” he said.
Following his arrest, Guadalupe-Quintana was transported to the Iredell County Magistrate’s Office. He was issued a $750,000 secured bond and was booked into the Iredell County Detention Center.
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