State trooper involved in crash while trying to stop wrong-way driver

During the chase, the driver headed the wrong way, up an exit ramp near Rock Quarry Road onto Interstate 40.

Authorities said in order to stop the wrong-way driver, Trooper Cody Thao parked his car at the top of the ramp to stop him from driving into oncoming traffic on the interstate.

SHP Sergeant Marcus Bethea said Thao's decision was "spur of the moment."

""It is a judgement call. We don't particularly train for something of this nature," said Bethea. "The trooper reacted in that moment and made the decision to use his vehicle, and ultimately himself, as that barrier to keep this from going any further and resulting in someone getting hurt and killed."

Thao was not injured during the crash even though he was inside the vehicle, according to officials.

"For a vehicle to travel the wrong way down I-40 at high speeds, that is literally disaster asking to happen," said Bethea.

"The outcome could have been somebody losing their life," he said.

Data from SHP showed chases on the rise. In 2019, there were 454 chases. That number jumped to 896 in 2021. So far this year, SHP says there have been 255 chases.

Joshua Ray Bibey, 26, from Raleigh, was charged with driving while impaired. He was transported to a local hospital after the crash for injuries.

Bibey has an extensive criminal record dating back to 2011. Most of his charges are for possession of drugs, including cocaine. Last month he was charged with felony fleeing to elude arrest with a motor vehicle and assault with a deadly weapon. ​

Bethea said Thao had been on the road and off of training for only a matter of months,

"He just graduated from our academy last year," he said.

Troopers are not trained to chase someone on the wrong side of the highway, so Bethea said the crash Thao caused may have been the last chance to stop Bibey before something worse happened.