Dad kills driver accused of hitting son after family runs out of gas, NC cops say
A man shot and killed a driver accused of fatally hitting his son on a North Carolina road, officials said.
The man’s family car reportedly ran out of gas, and three relatives had started walking along a road. A driver was “unable to avoid” crashing into the man’s 17-year-old son, killing him, according to the Person County Sheriff’s Office and the N.C. State Highway Patrol.
As the driver was reporting the crash to a 911 operator, two gunshot-like noises could be heard before the line went quiet. The teen’s father had taken out a handgun and shot and killed the driver, Sheriff Jason Wilborn told McClatchy News in a phone interview.
Then, the dad reportedly stole the driver’s pickup truck and went to the family’s home, leaving behind the son and the driver. The father — identified as 41-year-old Chad Woods of Timberlake — was arrested and charged with larceny and second-degree murder.
The driver was identified as 39-year-old Jeffrey Leonard McKay, a Youngsville man who was a maintenance worker for the state’s Department of Correction.
Sgt. Kevin Morris told McClatchy News the incident happened early Monday, Aug. 14. The family’s car broke down near Dink Ashley Road, roughly 25 miles north of Durham.
“This is kind of a first,” Morris told ABC11, The News & Observer’s media partner. “I’ve been to people struck by cars and I’ve been to shootings, but I haven’t ever had this happen at the same time. Sad situation all around, for all the families.”
As of about 4:15 p.m. Aug. 14, an investigation was ongoing, state troopers wrote in a news release.
This story was originally published August 14, 2023 at 9:00 AM with the headline "Dad kills driver accused of hitting son after family runs out of gas, NC cops say."
