Vigil to be held one year after fatal Orange County wrong-way crash

WTVD logo
Tuesday, July 19, 2016
Vigil to be held for crash victims
The group was hit by a driver headed the wrong way on the interstate.

ORANGE COUNTY (WTVD) -- The public will have the opportunity Tuesday to honor the lives of three people who were killed one year ago in a wrong-way crash on Interstate 85.



A special vigil is being held tonight at the Franklin Street Courthouse for Darlene McGee, Felecia Harris and Harris' 6-year-old granddaughter Jahnice Beard.



They were killed when a Jeep driven by UNC-Chapel Hill student Chandler Kania collided head on with their vehicle as they returned from a family reunion in Virginia.



Investigators say Kania purchased and consumed alcohol before driving the wrong way down I-85. In court last year, prosecutors said Kania gave troopers someone else's ID when he was pulled over that showed he was 21 years old.



PHOTOS: I-85 crash




An Orange County grand jury indicted Kania, who is from Asheboro, on three second-degree murder charges, three counts of felony death by a motor vehicle and one count of felony serious injury by a motor vehicle. He is also charged with obtaining alcohol with a false driver's license.



He was released from jail after his family posted a $1 million bond.



If convicted on all charges, Kania faces 40 to 50 years in prison.



RELATED: Court hearing continued for UNC student in wrong-way crash



Relatives of the victims, representatives of Mothers Against Drunk Driving, law officers and community leaders are among those who will be at the candlelight vigil. It starts at 8 p.m. at the Franklin Street Courthouse in Chapel Hill.



Report a Typo

Copyright © 2024 WTVD-TV. All Rights Reserved.

Related Topics