Caldwell County -- April 19, 2026: A tragic Friday night collision east of Lenoir has claimed the lives of a 78-year-old man and an 11-year-old child, leading to multiple felony charges against a Hickory man who fled the scene.
According to the North Carolina State Highway Patrol, the collision occurred at 8:45 p.m. on Friday, April 17, 2026, on US 64 near Union Baptist Road.
The Collision
Investigators report that an eastbound 2018 Ford F-150, driven by Matthew Braden Frye, 20, of Hickory, crossed the centerline and struck a 2006 Honda Civic head-on. Following the impact, the F-150 veered off the roadway, striking a guardrail and a utility pole. The driver, Frye, then fled the scene on foot.
The Honda Civic was left disabled and sideways in the roadway. Moments later, it was struck by a second vehicle, a 2015 Ford F-250 traveling westbound. The driver of the F-250, 22-year-old Barret Samuel Belk, was not injured in the secondary impact.
The Victims
Both occupants of the Honda Civic were pronounced dead at the scene:
Pink Grant Lackey, 78, of Lenoir.
An 11-year-old passenger, also of Lenoir.
Arrest and Charges
Frye was later located by authorities in nearby woods and taken into custody without injury. Troopers cited speed and impairment as the primary contributing factors in the crash.
Frye has been charged with:
Two counts of felony death by motor vehicle
DWI (Driving While Impaired)
Driving after consuming alcohol under age 21
Improper passing
US 64 remained closed for several hours as the State Highway Patrol conducted an on-scene investigation and crews cleared the wreckage. Additional charges are pending further investigation and consultation with the District Attorney.
*Suspect is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.