Driver Sentenced After I-95 Crash Leaves Smithfield Man Double Amputee
SMITHFIELD, N.C. — More than five months after a horrific Interstate 95 crash forever changed the life of a Smithfield man, the Virginia driver responsible has received the maximum punishment allowed by law.
On August 4, Makayli Pierce, 22, of Newport News, Virginia, pleaded guilty in Johnston County Superior Court to multiple felony and misdemeanor charges stemming from the Feb. 27 crash that left Virgil Lamark Archibald II, 38, permanently disabled after both of his legs were amputated.
Pierce pleaded guilty to assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury, felony serious injury by vehicle, reckless driving, driving without insurance, and operating a motor vehicle without a driver’s license. Prosecutors said the court imposed the maximum sentence permitted under North Carolina law.
A Routine Tire Change Turned Tragic
The collision occurred around 4:04 p.m. on Feb. 27 on the southbound shoulder of Interstate 95 near the Smithfield Outlets.
Archibald had stopped after his pickup truck suffered a flat tire. According to prosecutors, he had been on the shoulder for approximately 10 to 15 minutes when a family friend arrived in another vehicle to help. Another vehicle had also stopped behind them.
Authorities said Archibald was standing between the parked vehicles retrieving tools from the trunk when Pierce, driving a Buick Envista, left the travel lane, drove onto the shoulder, and slammed into the rear of one of the parked vehicles at a high rate of speed.
The impact crushed Archibald between two vehicles.
Emergency responders rushed him to WakeMed in Raleigh, where doctors were forced to amputate both of his legs because of the catastrophic injuries he suffered.
Investigation Led To DWI Charges
The North Carolina State Highway Patrol determined Pierce had been transported from the crash scene to Johnston Health in Smithfield. Troopers went to the hospital to investigate whether impairment played a role in the collision.
According to the District Attorney’s Office, Pierce admitted she had consumed airplane-sized bottles of vodka, although she claimed she drank them the day before the crash. Based on their observations, troopers obtained a search warrant for a blood sample.
Subsequent testing by the North Carolina State Crime Laboratory found Pierce’s blood contained a blood alcohol concentration of .20, more than twice North Carolina’s legal limit of .08, as well as THC, prosecutors said.
Enhanced Charge Filed
Assistant District Attorney Mark Mayakis prosecuted the case on behalf of the Johnston County District Attorney’s Office.
In addition to the original charges, prosecutors obtained an enhanced charge of assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury, arguing Pierce’s recklessness and impaired driving justified the more serious felony offense.
Pierce pleaded guilty to assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury, felony serious injury by vehicle, reckless driving, driving without insurance, and operating a motor vehicle without a driver’s license. Superior Court Judge William Pittman sentenced Pierce to 25 to 42 months in prison, the maximum sentence allowed under North Carolina’s structured sentencing laws based on her criminal record.
Johnston County District Attorney Jason Waller said, “This case highlights the obvious dangers of impaired driving and how poor choices put innocent lives at risk and can lead to life altering consequences.”
The case closes the criminal proceedings, but for Archibald, the consequences of the crash will last a lifetime, with injuries that permanently altered his future.
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This sorry a**, irresponsible **** was impaired and no license, no insurance and reckless driving causing an innocent man to lose both legs and the ” law” says it’s worth less than 4 yrs ???!!
Well at least she pleaded guilty. Sure hate it for the man who lost his legs. His life is forever changed. And totally preventable. What a shame!
She likely only did this to cop a lighter sentence.
Continued prayers for
Mr. Archibald.
So sad. She will be out when she is 26 and free to do whatever she pleases. He cannot sue because she had no insurance and for the rest of his life he will be disabled. This is so unfair.
Same thing happened to my father in Dec 2000. It happened in benson NC. My father was walking home when a vehicle got out the road and hit him. He was left to my die. He’s been on a wheelchair ever since. His life is not the same. He can’t even use to the bathroom by himself. The benson Police did very poor investigating and the guy was never caught. My father never received a penny.
He can still sue
What a travesty
This is very sad. I hope she really thinks about her consequences. I also wonder whether this driving under influence was a first offense or not, I bet Not
I’d sue her for anything she’s got land, house, any vehicles, anything. Let the court award him what they can, then start wage garnishment once she goes to work after her time has been served.
I’m the grandfather to Virgil’s daughter. He is such a good father. It’s a shame that in less than 4 years that young lady will be free to make bad and irresponsible choices again. My granddaughter has been devastated by this accident to her father. Just sad all the way around!
We have uninsured motorist coverage in North carolina which pays if you are hit by a driver who has no insurance
This pos should never see the light of day …. she also needs to be in a work program in jail and ALL of the money made should go to the victim.
This sucks. If he can he should sue her till the end of time. Short of that, he should pursue a lien against her and her property.
Penalty not harsh enough.
Again go woke that work for a living and did the right thing don’t stand a chance…
That is a lenient sentence. She should do 10 years minimum. This is crazy. No license! It shouldn’t have even been on the road!