A woman has been in mourning since her son was struck and killed by a car earlier this month. Now she’s appealing for assistance in getting him home for a dignified burial.
On August 19, a vehicle struck and killed 41-year-old Eric Macken near the intersection of Pineville-Matthews and Providence roads.
According to the authorities, Scott Austin drove his Dodge Ram through a red light at that location. He ultimately collided with another vehicle and spun out.
Austin’s pickup eventually collided with Eric Macken, who was walking across a crosswalk.
Dornetta Macken stated that she was on the phone with her son just 30 minutes before the disaster.
“My son’s life had been cut short. “This is not fair at all,” Dornetta Macken stated. “I’ll never get over it since a piece of my heart is missing. My son has gone. I’m not sure what else to say.”
According to court documents, Austin surrendered on Wednesday and is charged with misdemeanor vehicular death. An offense punishable by up to 150 days in jail in North Carolina.
It was also revealed that Austin was released on a $75,000 bail. An unsecured bond, which means no money was paid for his release.
“I wish they would make this situation a little stricter of the law because it’s not right that people if they do something like this, they just get a slap on the wrist,” Dornetta Macken, an attorney, said.
She went on to say that the accident killed someone who enjoyed music, sports, and his children. It also left his family in need of assistance.
Dornetta Macken revealed that it would cost more than $10,000 to transport her son’s remains back to New York for burial. She claimed not to have any money.
“Right now, I’m just tired, and all I want to do is take my son home,” Dornetta Macken explained.
Channel 9 spoke with Austin’s attorney, Mark Jetton. Jetton stated on Austin’s behalf, stating that “he has full sympathy for Eric Macken’s family, and he believes his death was an unfortunate accident.”