They took it to the limit, then passed it.
State Trooper Jackie Rogers said Arendell Parrott Academy student-athletes Nate Staskelunas and Andrew Davenport, both 18-years-old, were traveling at about 70 mph around a curve on Rouse Road Extension when the 2012 Dodge Challenger, driven by Staskelunas, left the road, hit a ditch, a tree and spun to its final resting place on the porch of a house.
Rogers confirmed Staskelunas had a .10 blood alcohol content at the time. He was charged with driving while intoxicated and given a $30,000 bond. Davenport received a citation for underage drinking.
“I got a phone call from the landlord, and he said a car ran into the porch,” said the home’s resident, Ryan Riggs. “So, I came here to check it out. And there was definitely a car. On the porch.”
Riggs said the students were being questioned by authorities when he arrived at the scene, after being called at work. He said he was surprised they left the wreck without being seriously injured.
“I saw one of them get out with a scratch on the leg and a smirk on his face,” Riggs said. “I didn’t really see the other kid.”
Both Staskelunas and Davenport are standout senior athletes at APA, school officials confirmed on Friday.
“It was an unfortunate accident,” APA head football coach Matt Beaman said. “I am just glad that both Andrew and Nate have no significant injuries.”
Davenport, the quarterback, and Staskelunas, a wide receiver, were the top two offensive players for the Patriots football team. The Free Press named each of them its player of the week last season — Davenport twice — and both were first team all-area selections.
Davenport was a do-it-all quarterback who threw for 1,017 yards and 22 touchdowns and ran for 1,017 yards and nine touchdowns. He was an all-conference and all-state pick and selected to play in the Oasis Shrine Bowl for private schools.
Staskelunas, who had an area-best 849 receiving yards and 17 touchdowns on 38 catches last season, was scheduled to attend N.C. State to play football as a preferred walk-on, The Free Press reported in March. He also played basketball for the Patriots, leading them in scoring at 11.6 points per game in an injury-riddled senior season.
Rogers said he hadn’t noticed an increase of drunk driving among teens, but that the Highway Patrol does put more troopers on the roadways this time of year.
“We have a lot more manpower out for prom and graduation and stuff like that,” Rogers said.
Sports Editor Ryan Herman contributed to this story. Wes Wolfe can be reached at 252-559-1075 or wes.wolfe@kinston.com. Follow him on Twitter @WolfeReports.