‘Beautiful person on and off the skateboard;’ Skate community honors victim of deadly bar crash

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY-TV) – A tribute was held on Wednesday at the Greenfield Grind Skate Park in honor of Alec Chambers, the victim in a deadly crash at a local bar on Tuesday.

Jason Ward grew up at the skate park, alongside professional skateboarder, Alec Chambers. Ward said he helped Chambers learn how to skate.

“He one day asked us on his birthday if he could skate and wanted to borrow a skateboard,” Ward said.

Ward has kept that skateboard since.

“It was really cool seeing him grow into being a great skateboarder and getting pro at it,” Ward said.

Now this skate park is marked with the legacy that Chambers leaves behind. Tuesday just after midnight, Chambers, a bartender at the Satellite Bar and Lounge was struck and killed by an alleged drunk driver.

Police said 34-year-old Michelle Masiello was driving a Jeep on Greenfield Street and drove onto the edge of Satellite Bar and Lounge’s parking lot hitting and killing chambers. Masiello allegedly kept driving onto the parking lot, hitting a tree and metal fencing around an outdoor seating area.

A memorial has been built outside the bar with flowers, candles and a skateboard in remembrance of Chambers.

“His death was tragic, he was ripped away from us, this highlights impaired driving is horrible,” said Sonny Russell.

Masiello has been charged with felony death by vehicle, misdemeanor driving while impaired, misdemeanor reckless driving to endanger and misdemeanor injury to real property.

Wednesday’s tribute was hosted by Good News Sk8 Night directed by Russell, who said Chambers was a close friend.

“Everyone here is a fan of Alec and his skateboarding but he was just a beautiful person on and off the skateboard,” Russell said.

A funeral service for Chambers will be held on Friday, January 9 at Andrews Mortuary Market Street Chapel.