Trooper Hurt in Head-On Crash With Allegedly Impaired Driver Traveling Wrong Way on U.S. 70

Goldsboro, North Carolina — January 31, 2026 — According to My Fox 8, a man from Pikeville has been arrested and is facing several criminal charges following a collision in Wayne County that left a North Carolina State Highway Patrol trooper injured.

Law enforcement officials say the crash occurred on U.S. Highway 70 near Spence Avenue. A patrol vehicle traveling eastbound in the inside lane was struck head-on by a passenger car that was reportedly moving against traffic.

Both vehicles came to a stop close to where the impact occurred. The car involved in the crash was identified as a 2017 Hyundai Elantra.

Investigators stated that when the trooper spoke with the driver, signs of alcohol impairment were immediately apparent, including a noticeable odor of alcoholic beverage and other indicators of intoxication.

Authorities identified the driver as 29-year-old Dylan Grant Smith of Pikeville. He was taken into custody at the scene and transported to the Wayne County Jail.

Officials said Smith declined to submit to a breath alcohol test after his arrest, prompting troopers to seek and obtain a blood sample for chemical analysis.

Smith has been charged with driving while impaired, felony serious injury by vehicle, assault on a government officer, reckless driving, and possession of an open container.

According to officials, Smith did not suffer injuries in the collision. The trooper involved was transported to a local hospital, where he received treatment for injuries described as non-life-threatening.

Smith remains held at the Wayne County Detention Center on a secured bond set at $150,000.

The Ramsay Law Firm has attorneys who are Board Certified in Workers’ Compensation claims to help individuals with severe injuries and death claims.

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Notes: Our team created this post using secondary sources and has not independently verified all the facts surrounding the accident. If you find any incorrect details, please contact the Ramsay Law Firm so we can update the post with the most accurate information. This post will be removed if requested.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this post is not intended to be legal or medical advice and is not a solicitation for business. The photograph used in this post is not representative of this accident. If you are injured in an accident, seek medical attention immediately, then speak to a North Carolina personal injury lawyer as soon as possible.