Pink Grant Lackey Killed in Caldwell County DUI Accident
Underage driver Matthew Braden Frye faces multiple felony charges after fleeing the scene of a fatal multi-vehicle collision on U.S. 64
Pink Grant Lackey, 78, of Lenoir, and an 11-year-old passenger were killed in a multi-vehicle DUI crash on U.S. 64 near Union Baptist Road in Caldwell County, North Carolina, on Friday, April 17, according to the State Highway Patrol.
Matthew Braden Frye, 20, of Hickory, faces two counts of felony death by motor vehicle, driving while impaired, driving after consuming alcohol under the age of 21, and improper passing. Troopers located the uninjured suspect in nearby woods after he fled the crash scene on foot.
The eastbound 2018 Ford F-150 crossed the centerline around 10:45 p.m. and struck a 2006 Honda Civic. The pickup then veered off the road, hitting a guardrail and a utility pole.
The Honda stopped sideways in the road. A westbound 2015 Ford F-250 then struck the disabled car.
Lackey, who was driving the Honda, died at the scene. The 11-year-old passenger also died from crash injuries. The driver of the F-250 was not hurt.
Investigators suspect speed and impairment caused the wreck. Additional charges are pending consultation with the District Attorney's Office. U.S. 64 was closed for several hours during the investigation.
How does an underage DWI charge impact the Caldwell County investigation?
The arrest of an underage driver on DWI charges introduces complex layers to the investigation. While criminal courts handle the felony charges against Frye, families of victims often pursue parallel civil investigations to identify all cause, including where the 20-year-old obtained alcohol.
National LNational Legal Analyst Candice Bond, Managing Partner at Bond Legal, noted that "When I hear about high-speed collisions, I think about the heavy grief those families carry. A car's black box captures the five seconds before impact, showing if there wasn't even a tap on the brakes."
According to the North Carolina Department of Transportation, speeding was a factor in 23.1% of traffic death statewide in 2023, while impaired driving remains a leading cause of fatal multi-vehicle wrecks.
What happens when a driver flees a fatal crash scene on U.S. 64?
The fact that the at-fault driver fled the scene on foot before being apprehended in the woods adds further distress for the grieving family. In cases involving impaired and fleeing drivers, independent investigators work to preserve evidence before it disappears from the road.
National LNational Legal Analyst Stefano Formica, Of Bond Legal, noted that "The suddenness of a highway crash is something no family is ever prepared to face. Data shows that the speed differential between vehicles, not absolute speed, is the strongest predictor of how survivable an impact will be."
North Carolina wrongful death statute
Under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 28A-18-2, surviving family members may file a wrongful death action. North Carolina applies contributory negligence. The statute of limitations is 2 years.
Recoverable damages may include loss of financial support, loss of services and companionship, funeral expenses, and the estate's losses.