Bail bondsman chases, crashes
By Laura Collins
Published in News on September 1, 2010 1:46 PM
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News-Argus/BOBBY WILLIAMS
A Goldsboro woman was killed Monday in a one-car crash off Salem Church Road. Anecia Neal, 25, died from injuries she received when the vehicle in which she was a passenger ran off the highway and struck a utility pole.
Goldsboro police are looking into a vehicle pursuit and crash that killed a LaGrange woman Tuesday morning.
Anecia Neal, 25, of West James Street, died from injuries sustained during the crash.
Ms. Neal was the passenger in the car driven by bail bondsman Michael McGee, 35, also of West James Street, LaGrange. She is believed to have been his fiancee.
According to the Goldsboro police reports, McGee was in pursuit of someone when he drove off the right side of Salem Church Road. He drove back onto the road, before driving off the right side of the road again. He overcorrected the second time when coming back onto the road and drove off the left side, hitting a utility pole before coming to rest against some trees about 150 feet from the pole and more than 40 feet from the road.
Both were taken to Wayne Memorial Hospital where Ms. Neal later died. McGee was treated and released.
Police Major Mike West said the department has asked the Highway Patrol to help with reconstruction of the crash to determine a speed estimate, among other factors that might have caused the wreck.
"A bail bondsman has no authority to violate any motor vehicle laws," West said. "It's unfortunate if it was a bail bondsman chasing a runner. No amount of money is worth someone's life."
West said due to the severity of the crash and the distance the vehicle traveled after striking the utility pole, it's likely McGee was speeding.
No charges have been filed against McGee, but West said it's possible the investigation could lead to a misdemeanor death charge.
West added that the police department does not have information on whom McGee was chasing. Officials plan to consult the district attorney's office about any possible charges that could be brought against the other driver.