Wilson’s Mills, NC (January 12, 2026) – A tragic single-vehicle accident claimed the life of a Smithfield man and left a woman critically injured early on Sunday morning after a fiery crash in Johnston County, according to Wilson’s Mills Fire Department officials.
Emergency crews were dispatched around 1:45 a.m. following multiple 911 calls reporting a crash on Powhatan Rd near Pocahontas Trail, approximately two miles northwest of Wilson’s Mills. When first responders arrived, they encountered a 2016 Dodge Charger Hellcat fully engulfed in flames after colliding with a tree at high speed.
Firefighters quickly extinguished the blaze and began searching for occupants. While a surviving female passenger initially indicated that five people were in the car, crews later confirmed there were only two individuals involved. The male driver, identified as 28-year-old Alexis Quintanilla of Smithfield, was pronounced dead at the scene. His body had to be extricated from the vehicle after an extended recovery effort lasting nearly 30 minutes.
The female passenger sustained life-threatening injuries, including burns covering over 20 percent of her body. She was transported by Johnston County EMS to WakeMed and later transferred to UNC Hospital in Chapel Hill for advanced treatment.
We extend our heartfelt condolences to the family of Alexis Quintanilla and hope for a full recovery for the injured passenger.
