ELIZABETH CITY, NC — A 21-year-old Elizabeth City man was killed early Sunday after police say he was struck in a hit-and-run crash on Halstead Boulevard. Officers were called just after 2:20 a.m. to the 800 block after reports that a person was lying in the roadway. When they arrived, they found an unresponsive man who appeared to have been hit by a vehicle.
He was pronounced dead at the scene. Police later identified him as Jason Kyle Poe Jr., 21. Investigators said the vehicle involved left the area after the collision.
Crash Scene Response
Elizabeth City police said the initial call came from people reporting a person in the road, which led officers to the stretch of Halstead Boulevard where the collision happened. The 800 block is part of a busy corridor in the city, and the crash unfolded in the early-morning hours when traffic is typically lighter. Officers found the victim already unresponsive when they got there.
Authorities have not released details about the vehicle that struck Poe or how the crash happened. They have only said the driver did not remain at the scene. The investigation is still active as detectives continue to piece together what led up to the fatal collision.
Arrest And Charges
Police, with help from Elizabeth City State University, arrested Sherman Banks, 33, in connection with the case. Investigators charged him with driving while impaired, failure to report an accident, driving with a revoked license, and death by motor vehicle.
Those charges reflect both the alleged circumstances of the crash and the decision to leave the scene afterward. Banks is being held at the Albemarle District Jail without bond. No additional details about his arrest were released in the announcement.
Victim Identified By Police
Police identified the person who died as Jason Kyle Poe Jr., 21, of Elizabeth City. Officials did not immediately release any further information about him. The fatal crash adds to the toll of hit-and-run cases that can leave families without answers in the first hours after a death.
In this case, officers were able to identify a suspect and file charges while the investigation continued. Authorities have not said whether more charges are possible or whether any additional agencies are assisting beyond the university’s help in the arrest.
Investigation Continues
Elizabeth City police said the case remains under investigation. That means detectives are still gathering evidence, reviewing what witnesses may have seen, and working to determine the full sequence of events before and after the crash. Officials have not announced a court date or provided a timeline for the next steps.
For now, the known facts are limited to the early-morning collision, the death of Poe, and the arrest of Banks. Police are asking the public to allow the investigation to proceed as they continue their work on the case.
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