21-year-old driver charged after deadly wreck kills two of his passengers

CATAWBA CO., N.C. – NC Highway Patrol has charged a driver with DWI after a deadly crash that killed a teen and young girl early Thursday morning in Catawba County.

21-year-old Braiden Cole is accused of driving while impaired. Troopers say he lost control of the 2013 Ford Fusion he was driving, flipped and crashed into several trees around 2:15AM on Boggs Road. Cole and the front seat passenger were taken to the hospital. The two backseat passengers, a juvenile girl who has not been named and 19-year-old Averie Saine, died at the scene.

In addition to DWI, Cole is also facing two counts of felony death by motor vehicle.