JOHNSTON COUNTY – A Johnston County man has been sentenced to prison after being found guilty for causing a fatal head on collision on NC 42 East near Lynch Road, north of Selma.
A Johnston County jury found Kevin Shawn Kelly of Clayton guilty of felony death by vehicle, felony serious injury by vehicle, involuntary manslaughter, driving while impaired, and driving left of center, on September 12, 2024. Kelly had previously been charged with second degree murder.
The charges arose from a wreck that occurred on November 26, 2022 in which Kelly was driving while impaired, prosecutorssaid. The North Carolina State Highway Patrol conducted the accident investigation.
Troopers determined that Kelly was traveling in a blue Toyota Tundra on NC 42 when he drove left of the center line and struck head on a black Ford Explorer, operated by 35 year-old Jose Martin Ramirez Hernandez of Middlesex. Hernandez was killed as a result of the impact.
A passenger in the Explorer, Ana Figueroa Hernandez, was severely pinned in the wreckage and sustained critical injuries. She was extricated by first responders and airlifted by Duke Life Flight to a trauma center.
A test of the defendant’s blood revealed an alcohol concentration of .16, twice the legal limit.
Johnston County Assistant District Attorneys Skye Robertson and Keith Gordon prosecuted the case in Johnston County Superior Court. Mr. Kelly was represented by Jackie Willingham.
At the sentencing hearing, Judge William Wolfe sentenced Kevin Shawn Kelly to a minimum 80 month and a maximum 118 month sentence in state prison.
ADA Robertson stated, “We’re pleased with the outcome of the case and want to thank the jury for their time and patience throughout the matter. State Troopers Corey Wilson and Dwight Braswell worked tirelessly to investigate this case; their diligent work allowed us to deliver justice to the Hernandez family. We are grateful to the Highway Patrol for their continued collaboration with our office and dedication to keeping our roads safe.”
“Our deepest sympathies are with the Hernandez family and we hope that this verdict brings them some peace. Impaired driving is a preventable and dangerous crime that the Johnston County District Attorney’s Office will continue to prosecute to the fullest extent of the law,” Robertson said.
So glad to see that JOCO will not tolerate DUI any longer. Great job to the State troopers who did the investigation.
Weak sentence for taking a life because you were drunk. He should have gotten 20 min without parole