A preliminary investigation indicates the 37-year-old victim had stopped on the shoulder with a flat tire.
DURHAM, NC - October 30, 2026
Rakesh Babu Poojari, 37, was killed in a hit-and-run on NC Highway 147 in Durham around 10 p.m. on Oct. 18, according to the Durham Police Department. Police are asking the public to help identify the driver and a Nissan sedan or small SUV they believe was involved.
Key Facts
- Date: Oct. 18, around 10 p.m. (first reported Oct. 30, 2026)
- Location: Southbound lanes of NC 147 near Fayetteville Street, Durham, NC
- Type of crash: Fatal hit-and-run
- Vehicles involved: Suspect vehicle described by police as a Nissan sedan or small SUV; driver not identified
- Injuries / fatalities: One fatality
- Responding agencies: Durham Police Department, including its Traffic and Crash Team (TACT)
- Reported by: ABC11 News
Crash Overview
According to the Durham Police Department, the collision took place in the southbound lanes of NC 147 near Fayetteville Street at roughly 10 p.m. on Oct. 18. Members of the department's Traffic and Crash Team were dispatched after a fatality was reported. When they arrived, they located a man who had been hit by a vehicle. Police identified him as Rakesh Babu Poojari, 37, who died at the scene.
A preliminary investigation found that Poojari had pulled to the shoulder with a flat tire, and he had exited his vehicle when the impact occurred. Officers think the vehicle they are seeking could be a Nissan car or compact SUV, and they believe it suffered significant front-end damage to its bumper, hood and windshield.
A Nissan emblem was found at the scene, and police believe the suspect vehicle is likely missing that badge. Police are asking people who noticed a Nissan with front-end damage matching that description, or who know anything about the crash, to contact the Durham Police Department. The investigation is ongoing.