A drunk driver who caused a wreck last year that killed a 35 year-old Johnston County woman has been convicted of second degree murder.
Ronald Trevor Holland, 45, of Angier was sentenced to serve between 108 and 142 months in prison following his conviction Monday in Johnston County Court.
On May 16, 2017, the NC Highway Patrol said Holland was operating a Toyota Tacoma pickup truck pulling a utility trailer loaded with limbs on Old Fairground Road near Stephenson Road in the West Johnston community. Holland crossed the centerline in a curve. Tiffany Carol Burnette of Massengill Pond Road drove off the roadway onto the shoulder to avoid being struck by Holland’s truck but was still hit. Burnette died on impact.
Holland had a blood alcohol content of 0.24, three times above the legal limit of 0.08 in North Carolina. He also had prior convictions for impaired driving.
Holland entered a guilty plea before Judge Douglas Sasser and was sentenced to an active prison term. Holland was represented by attorney Michael J. Reese. Johnston County District Attorney Susan Doyle and Assistant District Attorney Keith Gordon prosecuted the case.
Doyle stated, “I am pleased with the outcome and want to thank the North Carolina State Highway Patrol for their tireless work in this case. Because of their thorough investigation, we were able to remove a repeat offender from our highways. The District Attorney’s Office will continue to work closely with law enforcement to ensure that our roadways are safe in Johnston County.”
2017 scene photos by John Payne
