Experienced Driver with Extensive Traffic Record Involved in Collision with Librarian

A North Carolina man has received his sentencing after a tragic incident involving impaired driving led to the death of a woman. William Braddy will serve approximately eight years in prison following a plea deal related to the death of 69-year-old Carolyn Robbins Hyde, according to court records accessed by Law&Crime. The agreement saw Braddy plead guilty to charges of felony death by vehicle and felony possession of cocaine.

The incident occurred on May 8, 2024, when Braddy, whose age has not been disclosed, was driving along Highway 258 in Edgecombe County, located in the northeastern region of North Carolina. Under the influence, Braddy veered across the center lane, resulting in a head-on collision with Hyde, as reported by WRAL, an NBC affiliate in the area.

Tragically, Hyde did not survive the crash. This week, her grieving family members were present in court to witness Braddy’s sentencing.

Rick Hutchinson, Hyde’s son, expressed the family’s hope that the sentence would prevent future tragedies. “I’m just hoping that my mom’s death was the last sacrifice to keep this guy in prison,” Hutchinson shared with the local news outlet. “And so hopefully her sacrifice won’t be for nothing.”

“I”m just hoping that my mom’s death was the last sacrifice to keep this guy in prison,” Rick Hutchinson, Hyde’s son, told the local outlet. “And so hopefully her sacrifice won’t be for nothing.”

Braddy reportedly had an extensive history of traffic violations stretching back nearly 30 years before he drove into Hyde. That history included multiple DWIs, charges of reckless driving, and speeding violations.

One of those instances was in September 2023, when authorities said Braddy was also driving on Highway 258 and hit a man. He was charged with crossing the center line and having fictitious identification.

Edgecombe County District Attorney Jeffrey Marsigli told WRAL in response to questions about why Braddy was still on the road in May 2024 that cases are frequently dismissed after violations are fixed, and reckless driving charges often don’t lead to prison time.

For the May 2024 incident, Braddy was given credit for 700 days of time served. His faced a maximum prison sentence of 11 years.

Hyde is remembered in her obituary as having been born in the area. Before she “died unexpectedly,” she was working part time at an area library.