SMITHFIELD – The driver of a pickup truck that struck and killed a woman as she walked out of Food Lion with a bag of groceries Friday afternoon has been formally charged.
Steven M. White, 41, of Smithfield is now charged with felony death by motor vehicle and driving while impaired.
Around 5:35pm Friday, emergency crews were dispatched to the Food Lion parking lot, at 851 W. Market Street, after a pedestrian was reportedly struck by a silver GMC pickup being driven by Mr. White.
The pedestrian, Ms. Dian Hovland, had just exited Food Lion and while crossing the parking lot was struck and killed.
Steven White was transported to the police department for further investigation of impairment. He was later arrested on the charges.
A driver leaving the Food Lion parking lot a very short time before the crash described the silver truck entering the parking lot at an unsafe speed.
“He came in on two wheels and almost hit us. I tried to look into the truck to see who it was but I couldn’t because of the tinted windows. I said to myself he is going to hurt somebody. When I saw the picture on Johnston County Report I recognized it was the same truck that almost hit me.”
Steven White was held under a $120,000 secured bond at the Johnston County Detention Center.
That bail is way too low for this crime! An innocent woman died because of his choice to drink and drive, have overly tinted windows and not give one second of care to others around him. NO BAIL!!
I agree 100%
Absolutely too low
My heart goes out to this family but rather than second guess what our court system has done let us pray for this family and this young man.
I am doing both.
They need to crack down harder on all these criminals. People just don’t care for other people and their lives anymore. So sad.
Same thing happens with people on their phones while driving they should be charged just the same as being impaired
This exact scenario is eventually gonna happen at Walmart I. Smithfield. People drive30/35 mph through the parking lanes.
Worst is it’s gonna be a child that walks out in front of them
It has at Walmart..A few years ago a old man hit gas and not brake and hit(3 people?), but persons lived
10-1-2011 95 year old man, who could barely walk , driving around.
Unforgettable
One lady died!
I agree 100%
I got to meet Dian as we both worked together. I needed her help on something not too long ago and when we met we both hit it off great just like friends from HS. At work I pass her office every day and at times I would stop in to talk to her. She didn’t deserve this as she was a very nice lady. I know she has a daughter as she brought her up in a conversation with me and just wanted to say I feel very bad for you and your siblings if you have any. Going to work for me know will be a bit rough when I pass her office now. My prayers to the family.
I’ll pray for you too. You lost a friend, that’s very hard to go through. I’m so sorry her family and friends are going through this.
Thanks you Mary F
I work with Dian as she a very down to earth person. I have to see her office every day now and she want be in there. She will be deeply missed. My prayers is with her daughter.
Put this no good, SOB under the jail after the victim’s family beats him within an inch of his arrogant, sorry- a** life!!
I feel bad for the family of deceased person, but folks when you are walking out these stores don’t assume someone is gonna stop for you!!!! Just like your parents taught you growing up, Stop and look both ways!!!!
Tom, would you also like to share some wisdom about drinking and driving? Stop blaming the victim.
Mrs. Dian was a sweet lady, she watched me grow at work and was so encouraging for me to go further! You will truly be missed at work Mrs.Dian. We love you!
My heartfelt condolences and sympathy to the family of this lady;I did not know her and actually live in Kernersville between Greensboro & Winston-Salem.
This is absolutely an uncalled for tragedy for the Smithfield community!! A Johnston County idiot, evidently driving drunk which makes his brain(if he has one)not work quite as well!! DUH!! And yes….what if this lady had a child holding one of her hands and was carrying her bag of groceries in her other hand? There would be two people dead!!
Is Nancy Pelosi, Chuck Shumer, or Adam Schift the judge that gave such a low bail?!? I think 1 million bucks sounds better for this F&$@?R!!!
Finally, there’s more and more vehicles it seems that have over the limit of tinting;what do y’all think??!! How can these companies get by with putting more tint on windows than is allowed?!
We need Elon Musk to figure out how to make the tint go down to zero from 7pm til 2am every Friday and Saturday nights all over the U.S.!!!! Then we’d see what’s going on in these “d” vehicles!!! LMBO!!!!
You must drive a TESLA.
With his maga hat on
Preston, someone had to put on their
MAGA hat and make this tragedy about politics. You just couldn’t help yourself could you?
What is wrong with you??
I hope they throw the book at him and him under the jail. Drinking and driving then taking a life should be charged with murder. Also no bond for taking said life.
If it was a Mexican or black person no bond would have not been given
He chillin talkin to police, if it was a black or hispanic they woulda tackled him to ground
Someone always making this about color!! SMH
Which is why minorities never want racism to stop. It is their default excuse for anything that happens to a member of their group. Got fired? Racism, Failed a class? Racism, got stopped by the police? Racism, Didn’t get hired ? Racism.
@Frederick Donaldson Lol the only person that would say something so ignorant is somebody that’s never experienced genuine persecution a day in their life (and likely never will.)
If only they sold “Perspective” at dollar stores for people like you.
I hate this for both families involved. I must remind myself daily that we are all innocent until proven guilty. I don’t excuse this man’s actions by no means but we are all one decision away from making the wrong one. Let’s pray for both families instead of bashing this young man because his family may be reading it too!
I had a drug charge higher than that smh
You must be a real winner
Don’t sell drugs….problem solved.
A schmuck has made it about race.
Yep, as always
We live in a dark and broken world. Alcohol, money, power, drugs etc all try to fill a void they never can. This man must pay a price for his crime. Prayers go to the victims family, the perpetrator and his family for redemption. I hope Smithfield will reconsider their “ social district” as someone may drive drink and kill someone.
I have a family member is Johnston County Jail right now with the same charge under a 500,000 bond. I guess I don’t have to tell you what his race is!!
There is only one “race”… the human race. There are ethnicities though. The amount of a bond is based on various factors. Prior arrests, severity of charge, flight risk, probation status are all considered. Your information regarding your “family member” is lacking to say the least.
Click, I’m not blaming the deceased. I was only saying you have to be conscientious of your surroundings!!!! This is a tragic accident. Not making excuses for the driver, but he did stay on the scene instead of running like some in the past have done. I’m looking at it from both sides. Again a tragic accident!!!
I wish everyone would not be so ignorant to the fact that there are 2 families going through a very hard time. As for the driver, you only know what you are reading. I have read some comments from people that just like to insert themselves into these situations. I have heard camera tells all. What was seen on the camera is nowhere close to what is being portrayed by so called witnesses, and the media. It was a basic accident. The only person to judge is God.
And you sound a little strange…
Stating such obvious tripe.
And how would you feel if it were your loved one?
Forgive and Forget, I suppose.
Yeah!
Sound strange, I feel both families are struggling to get through this situation. I was just making a point for everyone to maybe understand the facts. Do you think this is not going to haunt the driver the rest of his life? I have a cousin this happened to. Not the same person now. It does not say he failed a breathalyzer. My heart goes out to the woman and her family also. No it is not forgive & forget situation, It was an accident.
You mean other than the diver being impaired?
White privilege strikes again a Hispanic did the same thing to a 19 year old in Clayton his bond 5 million but because this guy has the skin pigment for protection he gets a low bond smh when they do it they see no wrong when others do it they wanna set an exampley the double standard justice system wins again.. may he never find peace
Bond is basically set for liability of the arrested fleeing justice. When the risk is lower….so is the bond. Any individual that has extremely deep roots and and no history of relocating frequently will be considered low risk therefore a lower bond . Now if you are from another country or no history of a permanent address …look out.
He should remain in jail for the rest of his natural born life. He made the choice to drink and drive which shows he is not responsible. Keep him locked up that way he can never do this again. My heart goes out to this sweet lady and her family. I hope that the man who drove drunk and killed her……….will be haunted by this forever. I hope he never ever has a night of restful, peaceful sleep. I said what I said.
Why is everything to you people a racial thing. Oh he is white so he gets better treatment. I do not see what the bond has to do with it. That is not up to him or his race. So take your racial opinions somewhere someone gives a crap about. No matter what color or race, these individuals, will never be the same after a situation like this. Stop judging and look at yourself!
This a sad situation this is . A drunk at 5:30 in the afternoon is sickening. Can’t even take a simple trick to the grocery store without caution. What is this world coming to? And his bail is to low . He is probably at home drunk again. Prayers to her family
Waiting on the “Race Baiters” I mean his name is even “White” … this is a perfect opportunity for them. If the victim was black, it would be perfect but it’s still good enough for them since it was a white guy. I do agree his bond is very low for involuntary manslaughter and DWI. It is common place for those amounts of bonds has nothing to do with race. If you sell fentanyl or meth, though you’re screwed.
It isn’t involuntary manslaughter. It’s felony death by motor vehicle He was impaired.
It’s goin around he was enjoying time right before this at Smithfield new social district. Good job Smithfield for having a new place to get drunk
It is just a matter of time before something like that happens at the 40/42 Lowes in Cleveland community.
Everybody is a keyboard warrior quick to judge when they don’t have all the facts… No where in this article does it say he was drunk… DWI means driving while impaired… Do any of you know Steven personally??? How many of you know he is a diabetic??? Shame of everyone of you that are so quick to ASSUME anything about this man.
Impaired still means impaired.
The report said he was ‘taken in” and “later charged”. Which means they gave him a sobriety tests and he failed…!
Well i hope you arent judged at the throne for anyof your calculated choices since youre so friggin perfect
DEPORT HIM ASAP!! he is no good to this country… ship him off anywhere. No one deserved to die because of his dumb decisions. I hope he never finds peace.
Yes!!! Deport him to Raleigh central
This is not about politics or racism it’s about a family that is suffering from a senseless loss of their loved one. Let’s pray for her loved one’s left behind. It’s so sad y’all make this about politics and racism. Peace and comfort be with this precious family. I don’t know y’all but you are in my prayers. God be with all of us.
Shame on all of ya’ll.. This isn’t Steven’s first rodeo with the law.. a long list with a previous DUI..guaranteed there was an open container inside the truck and/or rolling around in the bed of the truck..everyone who knows Steven knows what I’m saying
At the risk of stereotyping, this fits the description of dozens of redneck Carolina truck drivers passing my house in a residential neighborhood everyday.
At the risk of stereotyping, this fits the description of dozens of loud Carolina redneck truck drivers passing my house each day in a residential neighborhood.
I know Steven and he is and will always be a good guy who made a tragic mistake. I know this is killing him inside. He happens to be a very caring person. My heart goes out to the family of the lady who was killed and also to Stephen and his family. Many Prayers.
choosing to drink and get behind the wheel isn’t a “tragic mistake” it was a calculated choice