State Troopers: Alcohol, Speed Factors In Deadly US 70 Crash
PRINCETON — A Princeton man has been charged with felony death by motor vehicle and driving while impaired following a fatal crash Sunday afternoon on U.S. 70 in Johnston County, according to the State Highway Patrol.
The crash was reported at 4:19 p.m. in the eastbound lanes near the Wayne County line.
Troopers said Linwood Chad Beasley, 22, was driving a 2022 GMC pickup east when he failed to reduce speed and struck the rear of a 2025 Chevrolet Trax.
The Chevrolet was driven by Tracy Danielle Nichols, 34, of Princeton, authorities said.
Both vehicles came to rest on the shoulder of the roadway. Firefighters used extrication tools to remove Nichols from her vehicle, but she was pronounced dead at the scene.
Troopers said alcohol and speed are suspected factors in the crash. The Highway Patrol’s Collision Reconstruction Unit is assisting with the investigation.
Beasley was arrested at the scene and charged with felony death by motor vehicle, driving while impaired and carrying a concealed weapon. He was taken to the Johnston County Detention Center.
Eastbound lanes of U.S. 70 were closed for about two hours during the investigation.
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24 Comments
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It’s a shame. Loss of life for what? Some kid high or drunk on whatever. Took an innocent life.
A mother with children
time kids make bad distion and now that poor kid has to live his life knowing he was completely at fualt for a death so if u don’t got smth nice to say DONT say it.
I’ve got plenty to say, but what I say is the truth. I really hope he gets the help he needs, but at what cost? Today it’s a life, tomorrow it might be 2 lives. Good luck and God bless.
We’re deporting the wrong people.
No we are not. All illegal aliens should be deported. People like Chad and DaKelvin should go to prison when they break the law like this.
You snowflakes need to get tough on crime. If you drive drunk and kill someone, you should be stripped of your citizenship and deported. You snowflake liberals would rather send them to jail where they can sit and watch TV, take classes…. all on the taxpayer’s dime! #getToughOrGetLost
Well stripped of their citizenship no, but if instead of a cozy prison they brought back chain gangs and making big rocks into smaller rocks all day and they get a cold sandwich the first 2 meals of the day and a hot sandwich for the last one then maybe just maybe people might be scared of going. The fact DWI is litigated like it is makes me wonder why the charge isn’t a felony to start with?
???? Bringing politics into this? Deporting illegals because they have broken the law. The majority of illegals were released from jails in their country to be brought here. Yes.. this young man is in jail tonight and will be for some time.
@Sarah: Not even remotely close to the truth. The DOJ reports that ~14% of deported people have criminal records in their home country. I know you Snowflakes like to make up things, but that is FAR from “the majority” as you claim.
And if you look at the latest NCDPS info (from 2024), you’ll see that the OVERWHELMING majority of people serving prison sentences for DUI are >AMERICAN CITIZENS<.
So yes, I maintain we're deporting the wrong people. I guess all you snowflakes prefer keeping DUI killers in the country!
Read the Joco report you might change your mind 🤷♂️
Just because many of them committed crimes in foreign lands, doesn’t make them any less criminal.
Totally inappropriate comment for this post though.
My heart aches for the family of this young mother. And for the young man who will have to live with the consequences of his actions that night – emotionally and legally.
Totally preventable. Just like the deportation of criminals from other countries. Never should have been allowed entry into the US.
Lord have mercy on all involved.
I’m sending prayers to the Nichols family. I’m so sorry for your loss. I know it is especially hard around the Christmas holiday to lose a loved one, especially one with three kids.
Please know my prayers are with you.
I’m so sorry for the grief and the tears and the pain in your hearts. My God be with your family. 🙏🙏🙏
When will people learn if going to drunk stay at home!! This is a terrible loss to the Princeton town
I can assure you that he is heartbroken about this situation. His eyes are not red and swollen from alcohol. They are red and swollen from his own heartache at this situation. He has the sweetest heart that you will find and the last thing that he would ever want to do is hurt the mother of 3 children. Many of the people that are bashing him do not even realize that their OWN children have had a few beers and drove home. This could be YOUR life. He wasn’t sloppy drunk like many of you picture it, although no one should have a single drink and drive a vehicle. He is also loved by his family, friends and co-workers. Two families are changed forever. AND…it can happen in your family too.
You have an awful lot of concern for this guy but not once did you mention the VICTIM, her husband or three children. I’d bet those children’s eyes are much more red and swollen and will stay that way forever. Moms never coming home because of him, his beer and his stupid truck.
Me, me, me and yes, yes yes his while life got this guy exactly where he is now.
Actually, I know both families involved. The Nichols family are very sweet, kind and gentle people. My hurt for them is sincere and heartfelt. It is absolutely unimaginable. There are no words to fix that. Only prayers.
I’m just seeing so many untrue things being said about the driver across social media, out of hurt and anger…that I just want people to be reminded that he has a soul and heart and people who love him as well.
Sorry to the family for their lost! I am also sorry for the morons that talk trash about someone they don’t know! This kid is a great kid that made his first mistake that costed a life he will struggle with this the rest of his life! Everyone talking trash about the kid well hope I don’t hear you in person trash him may cause you a bad head ache ! Government made it legal they give out driver license. They should be held for aid and betting! I am praying for both family’s and the r****** that get on here and trash someone because I know some of these people got sh*t in their closet they are hiding that can be revealed
@Ray: You’re blaming the government?!?! Wow…. you Snowflakes will do ANYTHING to avoid taking responsibility for your actions! #beResponsible
As far as we “DANIELLE’S family” is concerned you and the rest of these pathetic waste of space people that defend him and talk about his “oh so great heart” CAN GO STRAIGHT TO H*LL!! You know nothing….you were not there, but we were and we didn’t even realize its was OUR FAMILY IN THE CAR. The accident WAS THAT BAD. My husband and I know what that boy did and the crap he was trying to hide before the ems and everyone even got there. If he genuinely cared about the well being of danielle he would have ran over to try and help. Instead he chose to screen crazy mess like “I was just trying to sight my rifle” over and over then say how is that women in that car. Not to mention his bs story kept changing about what happened. There were several eye witnesses that saw the way he was driving right before he hit her. He walked around and cried boo hoo bc he got sober fast after killing her. He knew what he had on him and “bless his sweet hearted self” thougt it was more important to try and hide his **** then it was to go check on the person he just killed. You nor anyone else defending and making excuses for this boy and talking about “what a great heart” he has doesnt know sh*t, doesnt know FACTS, TRUTH, didnt see the absolute traumatizing seen of that accident and….last…. DID NOT see my poor sweet sister in laws body in that car. So like I said above you all can go straight to h*ll! #justicefordanielle
I hurt for Danielle family she leaves behind 3 young childeren with no mother.Here at Christmas her family going through alot.Danielle was a loving person prayers for the family to get through this tragedy.
70 highway (or the new interstate 42) is a dangerous highway! And its only going to get worse with the amount of people that is moving in the county. You have people drive 80 mph and other people slowing down to turn into driveways ON 70 HIGHWAY. The state needs to put more turn lanes on the right side even for homes alone 70 highway, not just for businesses if they want to make it a interstate.
I agree, it has always made me nervous to think of having a driveway right off of 70. It’s so dangerous. A little turn lane just for people to get turned in would be great. It’s normal for people to drive 70 on 70 and when someone has to stop in the highway to turn, it’s always made me think that it’s going to cause great harm someday, even as I admire their adorable houses are beautiful little yards, so nice. Prayers of course for Danielle. I seen she had a young baby that died, I believe she is raising her child in the presence of Jesus. Definitely what I would tell my kids because I truly believe that she went to raise her baby that lives with Jesus.