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