The Wilmington Police Department have identified the victim and suspect in a deadly traffic accident that took place at a bar in Wilmington, North Carolina, in the early hours of Tuesday, December 30.
Alec Chambers died at the age of 31 after he was hit by a Jeep while standing near the edge of the side parking lot of Satellite Bar and Lounge along Greenfield Street, police confirmed in a news release shared by WECT. Chambers was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police also confirmed that Michelle Lane Masiello has been identified as the driver of the car.
Masiello, 34, allegedly hit Chambers and then kept driving before she hit a tree and the metal fencing around the outdoor seating area of the bar.
Following the crash, Masiello was arrested and charged with felony death by vehicle, misdemeanor driving while impaired, misdemeanor reckless driving to endanger and misdemeanor injury to real property, according to online records viewed by Us Weekly.
She is currently being held at the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office Detention Center and has been given a $255,000 bond across her four charges.
Masiello appeared in court virtually on December 30. Meanwhile, she is next scheduled to appear in court on January 15, 2026, at 9 a.m.
During the hearing, Judge Melinda Crouch told Masiello that she could face up to 17 years in jail for felony death by vehicle if she is found guilty, according to Star News Online. Additionally, she is potentially facing up to 46 months in jail, being ordered to pay a $10,000 fine for DWI, having to serve up to five years in jail for reckless driving to endanger and up to 120 days in jail for injury to real property.
It is not currently clear if Masiello has entered a plea. However, Stars News Online reported that she waived the right to a court-appointed attorney and said she will hire an attorney on her own.
Wilmington Police Department officers and Fire and EMS personnel responded to the scene following reports of a vehicle versus building crash in the 120 block of Greenfield Street, according to a news release from the police department.
Upon their arrival, authorities determined that the incident involved a vehicle that struck both a pedestrian and a building.
Police confirmed that Masiello had just exited the bar before the crash took place, though it’s not clear how much she drank before she got behind the wheel of the car. Following the crash and her arrest, she was taken to Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center for medical evaluation before she was sent to a holding center.
The Wilmington Police Department Traffic Unit is conducting the investigation into the fatal crash. Police are asking that anyone that may have additional information related to this incident contact the Wilmington Police Department at (910) 343-3600.
The Wilmington Police Department did not immediately respond to Us Weekly’s request for comment when asked about an update on the case.
