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The Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office announced that it lost one of its own late last week. 

The man driving the other vehicle has been charged with death by motor vehicle, reckless driving and operating a vehicle left of the center line.

According to reports from the N.C. Highway Patrol, on Sept. 9, 2023, at 5:22 a.m., officers responded to a fatal collision on N.C. 150, just north of Rob Shoaf Road, involving a Forsyth County sheriff deputy.

A 2015 International box truck, operated by William Benton, 24, from Lexington was traveling south on N.C. 150.

Deputy Auston Smith Reudelhuber, 32, was driving his 2019 marked Dodge Forsyth County sheriff patrol vehicle from Lexington heading north on N.C. 150.

Reports said that the truck traveled left of center and collided head on with the patrol car. As a result of the collision, both vehicles traveled off the road on the right and came to rest on the southbound shoulder of N.C. 150.

Davidson County Sheriff’s Office and multiple local fire departments responded to the scene. Reudelhuber was transported to Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Hospital where he died from his injuries.  

Reudelhuber joined the FCSO on March 29,  2021. He was assigned to the Field Services Division and was a field training officer. Prior to his service with the FCSO, Reudelhuber worked the Davidson County Sheriff’s Office for more than three years as well as serving his country in the United States Marine Corps for six years active duty and was serving as a reserve.  

“It is with a heavy heart that we share the news of the passing of one of our own. Deputy Sheriff Auston Reudelhuber was killed this morning in a fatal car crash,” Sheriff Bobby F. Kimbrough Jr. said on Friday. “We are asking for prayers for the  Reudelhuber family as well as for our FCSO family. Together we stand and together we will get through this, with the support from our community.”

Benton received no injuries but is charged for his alleged role in the incident.

Trooper J. W. Boozer is the primary investigator for the North Carolina Highway Patrol.