Trooper recovering after being hit by car in Davie County

Published 7:44 am Monday, July 28, 2025

A North Carolina Highway Patrol trooper is recovering from injuries after a car plowed into his parked patrol vehicle Friday night in Davie County.
A Winston-Salem man has been charged in the incident.
Trooper Houston Holcomb was assisting another trooper, who had tried to stop the suspect for speeding over 100 mph in the 70 mph zone, just east of the Davie Academy Road overpass. The incident started at about 10:42 p.m., and the eastbound portion of the interstate was closed for several hours after the crash near mile marker 171, between the US 601 and Farmington Road exits.
NCHP Master Trooper Whit Efird reported that a trooper attempted to stop an Audi A5 clocked at 103 mph.
“The suspect vehicle refused to stop and fled from the pursuing trooper,” Efird reported. “An additional trooper in a marked patrol vehicle was stationary in the median of I-40 near mile marker 171 with emergency lights activated, awaiting the pursuit to arrive in an effort to assist.”
Efird reported the suspect “intentionally traveled off the left side of the roadway and struck the patrol vehicle that was stationary in the median.” The patrol vehicle overturned several times and came to rest upright.
The trooper was transported to the hospital for treatment of his injuries. According to a Facebook post, the trooper will “face a lengthy recovery process ahead.”
The suspect was arrested, and also taken to the hospital for treatment of injuries.
A warrant was issued against Luis A. Almanza, 26, of Winston Salem, charging him with: felony assault on a law enforcement officer, felony flee to elude arrest, felony assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury,speeding 103 mph in 70 mph zone, speeding 140 mph in 70 mph zone, reckless driving, aggressive driving, and failing to stop for steady red light.