Durham — A quiet Tuesday evening on Denfield Street turned into a community’s heartbreak when a high‑speed crash killed two young Durham men and sent two others to the hospital with life‑threatening injuries. Police say what began as a hit‑and‑run collision on Hebron Road ended in a violent crash that left families and neighbors searching for answers.
Around 5 p.m. Tuesday, officers were called to the 4700 block of Denfield Street after reports of a serious wreck involving a 2015 Ford Explorer. When first responders got there, they found the SUV crashed into a tree at high speed, its front end crushed and twisted against the trunk. Inside were four young men.
Two of them — 22‑year‑old Jordon Jones and 20‑year‑old Kymarion Williams, both of Durham — were pronounced dead at the scene. The other two occupants, ages 25 and 20, were rushed to a local trauma center with injuries that police describe as critical.
Durham Police say the Explorer had been involved in an earlier crash on nearby Hebron Road just minutes before the Denfield Street collision. According to investigators, the vehicle struck another car and did not stop. Instead, it continued through North Durham before veering off Denfield Street and slamming into a tree.
Officers on the scene said the Explorer crossed the double yellow line, left the roadway, and hit the tree at a “high rate of speed,” though they have not yet released final findings on why that happened. The ongoing investigation is still sorting out the full sequence of events that led up to the tragedy.
Detectives are reaching out to the public for help. Investigators asked anyone who saw the hit‑and‑run on Hebron Road or the crash on Denfield Street to contact Durham Police Investigator A. Roberts. Even small details — like dashcam footage or observations from drivers in the area — could be valuable in understanding what took place in those crucial moments.
Friends and neighbors described the scene as shocking, with local residents saying the loss has hit families and the wider Durham community hard. Many have paused at the spot where Jones and Williams died, placing flowers and lighting candles while urging drivers to slow down and stay safe on local streets.
In the hours since the crash, police have reminded the public that serious traffic investigations take time. Authorities stressed they are committed to piecing together every detail before drawing conclusions, and they continue to ask for patience and respect for the families who are grieving.
