Woman arrested following deadly crash at Satellite Bar and Lounge
WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — A Carolina Beach woman has been arrested and charged following a deadly crash at a popular bar in the South Front district in Wilmington.
It happened near the outdoor area of Satellite Bar and Lounge just before midnight on Monday.
Police said Michelle Lane Masiello, 34, was driving a Jeep and hit a man standing near the edge of the side parking lot along Greenfield Street.
EMS pronounced the man dead at the scene.
He has been identified as Alec Chambers, 31.
Authorities said after hitting Chambers, the vehicle continued forward, hitting a tree and metal fencing surrounding the outdoor seating area of the bar.
Police said Masiello had just exited the establishment prior to the crash.
She was taken into custody and transported to Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center for medical evaluation.
Masiello has been charged with felony death by vehicle, driving while impaired, reckless driving to endanger, and injury to real property.
Savannah Cullen is the Assistant Manager at Sugar Buzzed, down the street from Satellite Bar and Lounge.
Cullen said the deadly crash has rattled her and her co-workers who frequent the bar.
“I can still feel it like the anxiety, trying to settle what happened,” Cullen said.
Cullen added that Alec Chambers may have fallen victim to a regular trend on Greenfield Street, reckless driving in an area packed with nightlife and pedestrians.
“We’ve had car accidents pretty frequently for parked cars along here,” Cullen said. “I mean, it’s shaking and it’s really unfair and I’ve heard great things about him and I think the community has lost someone who is really important.”
Masiello appeared virtually in district court Tuesday morning. Her next court appearance is scheduled for January 15.
She is currently being held at the NHSO Detention Center under a $255,000 secured bond.
The Wilmington Police Department Traffic Unit is conducting the investigation.
Anyone with additional information related to this incident is encouraged to contact the Wilmington Police Department at (910) 343-3600.
