A Candler man faces two felony charges after state troopers say he fatally struck another motorist head-on while driving drunk on U.S. 19, also known as Smokey Park Highway.

North Carolina State Highway Patrol troopers arrested Rigoberto Gonzalez Martinez, 43, of Candler, on Sept. 14 on charges of felony death by vehicle, felony hit-and-run causing serious injury or death and driving while impaired, according to court records. He also faces two other misdemeanors and an infraction: reckless driving, no operator’s license and driving left of center.

Around 2:30 a.m. on Sept. 14, Gonzalez Martinez was driving a 2008 Toyota pickup truck west on U.S. 19 in Candler when he went left of center and drove head on into Patricia Ann Cole, who was driving a 2010 Ford passenger car, according to Sgt

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