NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NC (WECT) – More than 13,500 drivers across North Carolina were recently cited for speeding during the Highway Patrol's Operation Slow Down campaign. The campaign was done in combination with the Governor's Highway Safety Program No Need to Speed effort.

According to officials, speeding is the leading cause of traffic accidents and fatalities throughout the state and across the country.

Highway Patrol investigated 1,801 fatal accidents in North Carolina in 2012. Of those, 245 deaths were contributed to speed, compared to 244 in 2011, according to the NC Highway Patrol.

Despite the end of the Operation Slow Down campaign, troopers will continue to aggressively enforce the speed limits in North Carolina.

"Our number one priority is to ensure the safety of the motoring public," said Bill Grey, commander of the North Carolina State Highway Patrol.

WILMINGTON, NC (WECT) – Police are looking for the suspects in connection to two early morning robberies.

The first robbery happened at the Murphy USA gas station at 5221 Sigmon Road in Wilmington just before 1 a.m.  According to Lt. Blanton from the Wilmington Police Department, the suspect approached the cashier like he was going to buy something and reached in his pocket and showed what appeared to be a weapon.

Police say the man, wearing all black clothing then fled to the Walmart parking lot and later stripped off his clothing, which officers later found near the scene of the robbery. Officers responded with a K9 unit and were not able to track down the suspect.

The second unrelated robbery happened in the 1100 block of Rankin Street. According to Lt. Blanton, a woman was getting her mail when two people, one male and one female, approached her.

BRUNSWICK COUNTY, NC (WECT) - A Wilmington man was one of several suspects charged during a March 15 “Booze It and Lose It” checkpoint on Hwy. 74/76 West at the Brunswick River Bridge, according to a spokesperson for the Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office.

Patrick Deon Davis, 28, was arrested for DWI, then found to be wanted in New Hanover County for failing to appear on charges of manufacturing marijuana; felony possession of marijuana; possession with the intent to sell and deliver marijuana; maintaining a vehicle/dwelling/place for controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.  

Davis was taken to the Brunswick County Detention Facility, and was placed under a $50,000 bond.

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