Wake County Grand Jury Indicts Raleigh Doctor In Fatal DWI Crash

On September 28, a grand jury in Wake County indicted Dr. Raymond Cook, the Raleigh doctor responsible for a DWI crash in which a young ballerina suffered fatal personal injuries, for DWI and second degree murder.

According to a search warrant filed at the courthouse on that same day, Cook’s blood-alcohol level was more than twice the legal limit of 0.08 percent. Investigators say that two hours after the wreck, Cook’s blood test revealed his alcohol level to be 0.19 percent.

On September 11, the Mercedes Cook was driving slammed into the rear of the car driven by Elena Shapiro, a member of the Carolina Ballet, on Strickland Road near the intersection with Lead Mine Road in Raleigh.

According to witnesses, Shapiro had just turned right onto Strickland Road when Cook’s vehicle, estimated to have been traveling at a rate of 85 mph in a 45 mph zone, ran a red light and collided with her vehicle. Paramedics and Cook performed CPR in an attempt to revive Cook, but she died.

Investigators believe Cook, who is a doctor at WakeMed, to have been at the Raleigh Country Club prior to arriving at Pipers Tavern in north Raleigh, not far from the scene of the crash.

According to staff members at Pipers, Cook was drunk prior to his arrival at the tavern. They said they stopped serving him alcohol and urged him to get a ride when they realized he was intoxicated.

Cook is currently out on $250,000 bond.