$1 million bond for man charged in Wake County hit-and-run that killed child

RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — A Wake County judge Tuesday set a $1 million bond for the man accused in a deadly hit-and-run crash that killed an 11-year-old boy and seriously injured three of his family members.

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 “I do not feel that, um, the young man was (being) responsible or accountable,” the mother and grandmother, who wanted to remain anonymous, said as the family calls for justice. “We are devastated. I can’t. I don’t even have time. Oh, Jesus. I don’t even have time to deal with the emotion because I gotta deal with the business”

According to court records, Correll Jermaine Deans, the 40-year-old hit-and-run suspect from Spring Hope and friend of the victims, is accused of leaving the scene and all his injured passengers after the SUV he was driving crashed, killing the 11-year-old boy and seriously injuring his two younger brothers and their mom. 

North Carolina Highway Patrol troopers said it happened along Highway 96  near Doyle Road, north of Zebulon, around 1 a.m. Saturday morning.

According to troopers, Deans was heading south, crossed the centerline, ran off the road, slammed into a tree, and then fled the scene.

“The driver of the actual vehicle walked off. We don’t know where he is,” a Wake County Fire Rescue dispatch operator broadcast over the scanner radio.

It’s unclear how Deans got away before troopers and Wake County Sheriff’s Office deputies tracked him down and took him into custody not far from the crash scene.

“I believe that if he was an accountable person and had not fled the scene that my family would not be facing a loss,” an anonymous relative said. 

Deans was taken to WakeMed before being booked into the Wake County Detention Center.

Deans faces three felony counts of hit-and-run involving serious injury or death, two counts of misdemeanor child abuse and misdemeanor death by vehicle.

He is also charged with driving left of center and failing to properly secure two passengers under the age of 16.

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On Tuesday at his 1st court hearing, he agreed to  a court-appointed attorney before the judge set the secured  bond at $1 million.

“I’m not happy about a bond being set at all,” the victims’ mother and grandmother added. “I believe that he had not fled the scene, or he had handled his situations prior to getting involved with uh, my family. That this would have never happened.”

“This is a terrible accident,“ Wake County District Attorney Lorrin Freeman said. “We are very much focused on, you know, certainly hoping and praying that they will continue to improve and focus on seeking justice for this family.”

Meanwhile, the family is asking the public to respect their privacy during this difficult time.

“I want the public to consider if this was your family member, and there were situations that were unknown to the injured people. How would you feel? If you were some of the injured people, mother and brothers- that was not aware of total circumstance, finding out through the media.”

And the victims’ family said two of their three injured loved ones were still in the hospital as they prepare to lay to rest the 11-year-old boy whose grandmother described him as an angel:

“He is an exceptional person! He is just a so kindhearted, a person with just (a) beautiful spirit! He loves people! And he had so much potential,” she said.

As of Tuesday evening, Correll Deans remained locked up in the Wake County Detention Center ahead of his next court date scheduled for September 28th at 9 a.m.

Records also show he has another court case pending in Nash County where he was served with an outstanding warrant alleging felony possession of heroin and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia.

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