Ryan Zadrozny dies in fatal North Carolina hit-and-run crash

Ryan Zadrozny dies in fatal North Carolina hit-and-run crash

Fatal North Carolina hit-and-run death of Ryan Zadrozny – Obituary

Ryan Zadrozny, a 2020 graduate of Westfield High School, tragically lost his life in a hit-and-run accident in Charlotte, North Carolina, on December 1, 2024. The incident occurred around 2:12 a.m. when Zadrozny, 23, was crossing West Morehead Street with two other pedestrians in a marked crosswalk. As they made their way across, a Mercedes Benz driven by 40-year-old Mache Ulysses Darby sped through the intersection and struck Zadrozny, leaving him unresponsive in the roadway. Despite the collision, Darby fled the scene, leaving the two other pedestrians unharmed.

Responding officers located the vehicle a few blocks away, but Darby attempted to evade capture, leading to a brief chase before crashing his car. Police apprehended Darby, who was later taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Investigations revealed that Darby was impaired at the time of the crash, with speed and intoxication being contributing factors. He faces charges including felony death by vehicle, felony hit-and-run, felony flee to elude, and reckless driving.

Darby had a prior conviction for a fatal hit-and-run crash in 2011, where he was found guilty of fleeing the scene and was sentenced with a suspended sentence. Witnesses or anyone with information about this incident are encouraged to contact local authorities.