Fatal Johnston County Hit-And-Run Ends With Guilty Plea, Prison Sentence

JOHNSTON COUNTY, N.C. — A North Carolina man accused of driving the wrong way on the U.S. 70 Clayton Bypass, causing a fiery head-on crash that killed a 24-year-old woman before fleeing the scene, has pleaded guilty and been sentenced to prison.

Robert Brad Williams, of Hickory, pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and felony hit and run resulting in death, Johnston County District Attorney Jason Waller announced Thursday.

Williams was sentenced to 96 to 128 months in prison.

He also admitted to being a habitual felon, which elevated both offenses from Class F felonies to Class C felonies under North Carolina law and resulted in a substantially longer active prison sentence, according to the District Attorney’s Office.

The charges stemmed from a deadly collision around 3:04 a.m. Dec. 15, 2024, on the U.S. 70 Clayton Bypass.

According to the North Carolina State Highway Patrol, Williams was driving a BMW westbound in the eastbound lanes when he collided head-on with a Jeep SUV.

Kortney Summer Atkins, 24, of Goldsboro, a passenger in the Jeep, was killed.

The Jeep’s driver, Sydney Ann Skelding, 26, along with passengers Michael Atkins, 25, and a 4-year-old child, all of Goldsboro, suffered serious injuries.

The BMW burst into flames following the collision. Investigators said Williams fled the crash scene on foot, prompting an effort by law enforcement to identify and locate him.

Nearly three weeks later, on Jan. 4, 2025, the Highway Patrol located Williams as a passenger in a Mercedes traveling on Interstate 95 near Dunn. Multiple state troopers from Johnston and Harnett counties conducted a felony traffic stop near the 71 mile marker and took Williams into custody without incident.

Sgt. Nathan White of the North Carolina State Highway Patrol said his thoughts remain with Atkins’ family following Williams’ sentencing.

“First and foremost, my thoughts and prayers are with the family of Kortney Summer Atkins as they continue to navigate life without her. With Mr. Williams being sentenced today, we hope this brings the family some measure of closure,” Sgt. White said.

White also credited several agencies and specialized units with assisting in the investigation and search for Williams.

“I want to thank the Wake County Sheriff’s Office Special Operations Unit, the Highway Patrol Aviation Unit, the Collision Reconstruction Unit, and the District Attorney’s Office for their assistance throughout this case,” Sgt. White said.

District Attorney Jason Waller said hit-and-run cases can be particularly difficult because the person responsible has left the scene and investigators must work to identify, locate and apprehend the suspect.

“Hit-and-run cases are some of the most challenging cases we prosecute because the person responsible has chosen to flee rather than face the consequences of his actions,” Waller said. “This conviction is a testament to the determination and persistence of Sgt. Nathan White, Trooper Colby Hall, and other members of the Highway Patrol who refused to let this case go unsolved. Their tireless work to identify, locate, and apprehend Mr. Williams ensured that he was held accountable. I also want to thank Assistant District Attorney Cailin Slavin and our office investigator for their preparation, professionalism, and dedication in securing this conviction.”

Waller also addressed the lasting impact of the crash on Atkins’ family.

“While no sentence can restore the life that was taken or erase the pain suffered by the victim’s loved ones, today’s outcome ensures that the defendant has been held accountable for his actions. Our thoughts remain with the family of Kortney Summer Atkins as they continue to grieve their tremendous loss.”