The suspect ran and covered himself in mud trying to hide in the woods, like a Rambo movie
23-year-old Karina Gomez was killed in a head on crash on US Highway 21 in Huntersville, NC. On November 6, 2025 Michael Benjamin, 32, pleaded guilty to killing her while he was driving drunk in a Dodge Ram truck.
The crash was on July 16, 2024, Michael was driving a newer model white Dodge Ram pickup truck drunk. Michael loss control and drove over the median into oncoming traffic directly into the vehicle Karina was driving head on.
Karina died on scene. Michael ran from the scene, leaving his shoe behind. Officers responded to the serious crash and found the Dodge Ram truck on scene without a driver.
There was a single shoe in the driver floor board of the truck. A K-9 track was started to locate the driver of the truck. The other matching shoe was found during the search. Ultimately Michael was located in the woods hiding covered in mud and not wearing shoes.
Benjamin ignored officers commands to get on the ground before being taken into custody. While walking back to the scene the suspect made spontaneous utterances to officers that he was driving and then saw bright lights and woods.
Michael had a heavy odor of an alcoholic beverage emitting from his breath. His eyes were blood shot red and he had trouble standing on his own feet.
Michael’s emotional state was unsteady, he would be cooperative at times and then belligerent and physically
confrontational and resistive at other times.
Michael was arrested charged with DWI and felony death by vehicle. In November 2025 Michael pled guilty and he was sentenced to four to six years in prison. Karina had dreams of working in the pharmaceutical field.
