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Hit-and-run fatality

18-year-old Lenoir man charged

Robert C. Reed | Hickory Daily Record

Fresh crime scene paint covers the shoulder of U.S. 321 where local law enforcement investigated a hit-and-run on the off-ramp of Interstate-40 and U.S. 321 North in Hickory early Sunday.

By John Dayberry | Hickory Daily Record

Published: October 19, 2009

HICKORY - A 22-year-old Hickory woman died early Sunday morning after being hit by a vehicle on U.S. 321 North near Interstate 40.

An 18-year-old Lenoir man faces multiple charges in the incident, including felony death by motor vehicle, felony serious injury by motor vehicle and two counts of felony hit and run.

Hickory police received a call at approximately 2 a.m. Sunday reporting a female lying on U.S. 321 North.

When officers and emergency medical personnel arrived, they found the body of Charlaine Taylor Sybrant lying in the road. Joshua Keith Gajus, 24, also of Hickory, was found at the scene with injuries to his leg.

Officers said Sybrant and Gajus were walking along U.S. 321 not far from where their vehicle had broken down when they were struck by a car traveling north on U.S. 321. The driver of that vehicle fled the scene, officers said.

The Hickory Police Department Traffic Safety Unit was contacted and responded to the scene.

At approximately 3 a.m., Sgt. Tim Branch with Valdese Police Department stopped a 2003 Chevrolet Impala on Malcolm Boulevard in Valdese for suspicion of driving while impaired.

Branch noticed heavy damage to the front, side and top of the Impala as well as to its front windshield. Branch contacted surrounding law enforcement agencies when he learned of the traffic fatality in Hickory.

Hickory police officers went to Valdese, where they charged Daniel Thomas Whisnant, 18, with felony death by motor vehicle, felony serious injury by motor vehicle and two counts of felony hit and run.
Branch charged Whisnant with driving while impaired and driving while license revoked.

Whisnant was jailed in Catawba County on a $104,000 secured bond.

Whisnant is scheduled to have his first court appearance today on the hit-and-run-related charges.

He is to have his first court appearance Nov. 25 on the driving-while-impaired and driving-while-license-revoked charges.

Gajus was treated at Frye Regional Medical Center and released.

The Hickory Police Department Traffic Safety Unit is still investigating the incident.