A North Carolina man accused of killing two people on an e-bike when his car struck them posted a $1 million bond after turning himself in to police.
Collin McLaughlin, 22, cried in court on Friday as a judge set the $1 million bond, with conditions that he stay on house arrest and wear an ankle monitor after his release. The Wilson Times, a local news outlet, covered the hearing and reported that McLaughlin posted bond and went home the same day. That outraged the families of the two people he allegedly killed: 49-year-old Jason Williams and 42-year-old Charise Dickerson. Authorities charged McLaughlin with two counts each of second-degree murder and felony death by vehicle.
McLaughlin is the son of a Wilson County Sheriff’s Office captain. He reportedly called his father before he called 911 on the morning of the crash.
The Wilson Times reported that prosecutors shared more details at Friday’s hearing about the fatal crash, which happened in Wilson, North Carolina, at 5:10 a.m. on Sept. 24. Wilson District Attorney Jeffrey Marsigli said McLaughlin was driving a Toyota Camry at 91 mph in a 45 mph zone while under the influence. WNCN, the local CBS affiliate, reported that police gave McLaughlin a breath test at the scene that indicated impairment, and that he failed a field sobriety test after arriving at the hospital. Blood test results from the day of the crash were not available at Friday’s hearing.
Williams and Dickerson, who were friends, were pronounced dead at the scene. An accident report WNCN obtained stated that the e-bike traveled 419 feet after the initial collision. Alesia Dickerson, Charise Dickerson’s mother, reportedly yelled in court, “He dragged my daughter!” before officers led her out of the room.
According to The Wilson Times, McLaughlin called 911 after the crash, but only after he called his father. The paper 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, and he answered, “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.”
The Wilson Times reported that McLaughlin’s father arrived while his son was still on the phone with 911 and said, “Sit down, Bud. How did you effing hit him?”
The Wilson Times and WNCN both reported that McLaughlin has a history of traffic violations dating back to 2022, including speeding and running red lights. Prosecutors downgraded or dismissed many of those charges.
McLaughlin turned himself in to police on the morning of his first court appearance, more than a week after the crash. He is scheduled to appear in court again on Oct. 13.
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