Early Sunday in Durham County, a routine driver swap turned tragic when 24-year-old Brijette Basden lost her life and her sister, Asrael, was critically shaken in a multi-vehicle crash on I-40. The sisters had briefly pulled off to the left shoulder near Page Road around 4:45 a.m. to exchange driving duties. What followed was a chain of events none could have foreseen.
They had exited the car — a Ford Fusion parked, in part, on the roadway — when a 2003 Toyota Camry barreled down the far-left lane and struck both women and their vehicle. The force of that impact sent the Camry careening into another lane, where it collided with a 2021 Toyota Camry. Brijette died instantly at the scene; her sister, Asrael, was rushed to a local hospital with serious but nonfatal injuries, including a broken foot.
Authorities confirmed that no other person was hurt in the incident, and up to now no charges have been filed. The investigation remains active, as police try to untangle how such a collision could cascade so fatally. All westbound lanes of I-40 were shut for several hours during the investigative work.
Friends and loved ones are left reeling over the sudden loss of a life and the trauma borne by one who came so close to death. The bare facts — a routine moment turned deadly — punch harder than any statistic.
If you were in the area or witnessed anything, police are asking that you step forward. Contact Investigator G. Munter at 919-560-4935 extension 29448, or reach out to Durham CrimeStoppers at 919-683-1200.
As traffic slowly resumed and investigators wrapped up, one thing is certain: a moment meant to be ordinary left a family forever changed.