Executive Summary
- Michelle Lane Masiello, 34, charged with felony death by vehicle and DWI.
- Incident occurred at Satellite Bar and Lounge in Wilmington, NC, early Tuesday.
- Arrest warrants allege the vehicle breached a patio wall, killing one victim.
- Defendant held on $255,000 secured bond with an immediate license suspension.
A 34-year-old woman was arrested early Tuesday in Wilmington, North Carolina, following a vehicle collision at a local establishment that resulted in a fatality. Authorities have charged Michelle Lane Masiello with felony death by vehicle and driving while impaired after her vehicle allegedly struck a barrier at a Greenfield Street bar.
The incident occurred around 12:30 a.m. on December 30 at the Satellite Bar and Lounge. According to arrest warrants cited in local reports, Masiello allegedly drove her vehicle into the establishment’s outdoor patio area, breaching a wall described as a fence. The impact struck and killed an individual at the scene. The identity of the victim has not been immediately released by law enforcement.
Court filings indicate that Masiello was allegedly operating the vehicle while “subject to an impairing substance.” In addition to the felony charge, she faces misdemeanor counts of reckless driving to endanger and injury to real property. Following the incident, officials issued an immediate 30-day suspension of her driver’s license.
Masiello was processed and held on a $255,000 secured bond. Her first court appearance was scheduled for Tuesday morning to address the charges.
Judicial Process & Legal Context
The charges levied in this incident trigger significant legal protocols within the North Carolina judicial system, particularly regarding the immediate civil revocation of driving privileges in cases involving impaired driving resulting in death. As the case moves to preliminary hearings, the prosecution will likely rely heavily on toxicology results to substantiate the impairment claims. It is important to note that all individuals, including Ms. Masiello, are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
