Insets (top to bottom): Jason Williams and Charise Dickerson (Facebook). Background: News footage of Collin McLaughlin in court (WNCN).
A North Carolina man who is accused of killing two people who were riding an e-bike when he hit them with his car posted $1 million bond after he turned himself in to police.
Collin McLaughlin, 22, cried in court on Friday after a judge issued the $1 million bond with conditions that he remain on house arrest and wear an ankle monitor upon his release. According to courtroom coverage by The Wilson Times, a local news outlet, McLaughlin posted bond and went home the same day, which outraged the families of the two people he allegedly killed — 49-year-old Jason Williams and 42-year-old Charise Dickerson. McLaughlin was charged with two counts each of second-degree murder and felony death by vehicle.
McLaughlin, the son of a Wilson County Sheriff's Office captain, reportedly called his father before calling 911 on the morning of the crash.
The Wilson Times reported that during the hearing on Friday, prosecutors laid out more details about the fatal crash that occurred in Wilson, North Carolina, at 5:10 a.m. on Sept. 24. According to Wilson District Attorney Jeffrey Marsigli, McLaughlin was speeding at 91 mph in a 45 mph zone in a Toyota Camry while under the influence. Local CBS affiliate WNCN reported that police administered a breath test at the scene that indicated impairment, and McLaughlin failed a field sobriety test after being taken to the hospital. Blood test results from the day of the crash were not available at Friday's hearing.
Both Williams and Dickerson, who were friends, were pronounced dead at the scene. An accident report obtained by WNCN stated that the e-bike they were riding traveled 419 feet after the initial collision. Alesia Dickerson, the mother of Charise Dickerson, reportedly yelled in court, "He dragged my daughter!" before she was led out of the room.
According to The Wilson Times, McLaughlin called 911 after the crash, but only after he called his father. The Wilson Times obtained a recording of the 911 call from Wilson County Emergency Communications and reported that McLaughlin told the dispatcher, "I was coming home, and I hit someone. He's dead."
The dispatcher reportedly asked McLaughlin if the person was breathing, to which he responded, "No, he's dead. It's not a person anymore. He's on the ground beside my car and his bike is stuck under my car. Please hurry up. My dad is on the way."
According to The Wilson Times, while McLaughlin was still on the phone with 911, McLaughlin's father arrived on the scene and said to his son, "Sit down, Bud. How did you effing hit him?"
The Wilson Times and WNCN both reported that McLaughlin has a history of traffic violations going back to 2022, including speeding and running red lights. Many of the charges were downgraded or dismissed.
McLaughlin turned himself in to police the morning of his first appearance in court, more than a week after the crash. He is scheduled to appear in court again on Oct. 13.