Durham: Apex man charged in N.C. 147 hit-and-run death of Rakesh Babu Poojari

An Apex man has been charged in the death of a man who was hit and killed while checking a flat tire on the Durham Freeway last month, Durham police say.

Julien Kuttummel Varkey Joseph, 48, was arrested Tuesday, Nov. 3, and charged with felony hit-and-run causing death, according to a Durham Police Department news release reported by The News & Observer. Police say he is the driver who struck Rakesh Babu Poojari, 37, on Oct. 18 and did not stop.

Joseph's arrest warrant alleges he hit Poojari with a 2015 Nissan Altima. According to the warrant, he then drove an estimated 12 more miles before calling his wife and then 911, and a state trooper who responded to his location wrote a report in which Joseph said he had struck a deer.

Joseph posted a $100,000 unsecured bond on Tuesday, and his first court appearance was set for Wednesday morning, court records show, according to The News & Observer. A charge is only an accusation. Joseph is presumed innocent unless and until he is proven guilty in court.

Background

Poojari was struck about 10 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 18, while he stood on the shoulder of southbound N.C. 147 near Fayetteville Street to look at a flat tire on his vehicle, police said. He died at the scene.

Ten days later, on Wednesday, Oct. 28, police asked the public for help finding the car. They said it appeared to be a Nissan sedan or smaller SUV with heavy damage to the front bumper, hood and windshield, and that officers had found its front Nissan emblem at the scene.

Triangle Local's earlier story on the crash is here: Durham: Police seek Nissan in N.C. 147 death of Rakesh Babu Poojari.

Related coverage

• Earlier N.C. 147 crash file on Poojari
• Durham I-85 motorcycle death of Lorenzo Wiley
• Durham bicycle crash charge

What we don't know yet

It is not known whether Joseph has an attorney, what happened at his first court appearance or whether more charges will be filed.

Timeline

• Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026, about 10 p.m.: Rakesh Babu Poojari, 37, is struck and killed while checking a flat tire on the shoulder of southbound N.C. 147 near Fayetteville Street. The driver does not stop (Durham police, via The News & Observer and CBS 17).
• Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026: Durham police ask for help finding a damaged Nissan and say a Nissan emblem was found at the scene (Durham police, via WRAL, CBS 17 and ABC11).
• Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026: Julien Kuttummel Varkey Joseph, 48, of Apex, is arrested, charged with felony hit-and-run causing death and released on a $100,000 unsecured bond (Durham police and court records, via The News & Observer).
• Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026: Joseph's first court appearance is scheduled (court records, via The News & Observer).

How to help

Anyone with information can contact Durham police Investigator D.A. Monroe at 919-560-4935, ext. 29450, or Durham CrimeStoppers at 919-683-1200.