A North Carolina man has been sentenced to at least 16 years in prison after pleading guilty to the fatal hit-and-run of a pedestrian in Charlotte. Mache Darby, 40, expressed deep remorse in court, apologizing to the victim’s family and stating, “I’m very, very sorry. This could have been avoided.”
The Tragic Incident
On December 1, 2024, Darby was speeding through an intersection in his Mercedes-Benz at 105 mph when he struck 23-year-old Ryan Zadrozny, a New Jersey native visiting friends. Zadrozny was walking through the intersection when Darby hit him, then continued driving without stopping.
The victim died at the scene, and Darby fled the scene but was later apprehended after crashing his vehicle during a police chase.
Previous Conviction and Alcohol Involvement
At the time of the crash, Darby admitted to consuming tequila at a club before getting behind the wheel and was found to be impaired. This was not Darby’s first criminal offense—he had been convicted of another fatal hit-and-run in 2011, for which he served prison time and probation.
He was initially held on a $1.5 million bond and faced multiple charges, including second-degree murder, death by vehicle, hit-and-run resulting in serious injury or death, eluding arrest, and reckless driving.
Family’s Heartache and Courtroom Emotions
In court, Darby appeared deeply remorseful and apologized to Zadrozny’s family. Despite his apology, the grief felt by the victim’s family remained.
Zadrozny’s uncle, Kevin Wallace, told local media, “The heartache just never ends,” acknowledging that no punishment could bring his nephew back. Both Darby and the victim’s family left the courtroom in tears, a reflection of the emotional weight of the case.
Darby’s prior convictions and reckless actions underscore the severe consequences of impaired and irresponsible driving. His guilty plea marks the resolution of a heartbreaking case that devastated a family and highlighted the dangerous impact of negligence on the road.
