William Braddy was sentenced to about eight years in prison after pleading guilty to felony death by vehicle and cocaine possession in the death of 69-year-old Carolyn Robbins Hyde. The crash occurred on May 8, 2024, when Braddy, driving under the influence on Highway 258 in Edgecombe County, North Carolina, swerved into another lane and struck Hyde. He received credit for 700 days served, facing a maximum of 11 years.
Braddy appeared in Edgecombe County court this week, where family members of Hyde attended the sentencing. Authorities stated that Braddy crossed the center line while impaired, leading to the fatal collision that killed Hyde, who worked part-time at a local library. Court records confirmed the plea deal resulted in the eight-year term. |n|nHyde's son, Rick Hutchinson, expressed hope outside court. |n|n> I'm just hoping that my mom's death was the last sacrifice to keep this guy in prison. And so hopefully her sacrifice won't be for nothing. |n|nBraddy's driving history spans nearly 30 years, including multiple DWIs, reckless driving, and speeding charges, according to WRAL. In September 2023, he crashed into another man on the same highway and faced charges for crossing the center line and fictitious identification. |n|nEdgecombe County District Attorney Jeffrey Marsigli explained to WRAL why Braddy remained on the road. He noted that cases often get dismissed after violations are corrected and reckless driving charges rarely result in prison time.