Father Of Girl Injured In Accident Will Be Charged With Beating Other Driver

Benitez Fernando Manuel Pereyra, 22, of Smithfield was driving this burgundy Dodge Saturday night when it was struck by a car, operated by Simon Wmysall of Goldsboro. Pereyra's 9-year-old daughter was ejected onto the highway. Afterwards, Pereyra allegedly attacked Wmysall. Pereyra will be charged with felonious assault for the beating, Wilson's Mills Police Chief Steve Little said.

Wilson ’s Mills Police will file charges against a motorist who attacked another driver following a collision that injured his daughter. Police Chief Steve Little said Benitez Pereyra, 22, of Snowberry Lane, Smithfield, was stopped for a red light on Swift Creek Road at US70 Saturday night. His 9-year-old daughter, riding in the back seat, asked her mother, Maria Perez, if she could unbuckle her seat belt and lay down. Less than 30 seconds later, Chief Little said, Pereyra’s car was the third vehicle to cross the intersection, but as he did, an eastbound Chevy Impala, driven by Simon Anthony Wmysall, 48, of Goldsboro, ran the red light crashing into the side of the Dodge. Nine-year-old Melanie Lopez was instantly ejected out a side window and onto the pavement. Pereyra ran to check on his daughter and though she was dead, Chief Little said. He then ran over to Wmysall, who was not yet out of his crushed car. Pereya reportedly began beating him in the face breaking six bones. Wmysall told police he did not remember the accident nor does he remember being assaulted afterwards. Wmysall said the last thing he remembered was stopping at Bojangle’s in Clayton, police reported. Chief Little said Pereyra will be charged with felonious assault inflicting serious bodily injury. Police do not consider Pereyra a threat to public safety and don’t plan to arrest him until his daughter is out of the hospital. Wmysall was charged with running a red light. The injured 9-year-old girl was airlifted to Duke Medical Center following the 9:10pm accident. She sustained a fractured skull, and severe cuts to her head and arm, but none of the injuries are said to be life threatening.