Man police say ran from fatal Plaza Midwood crash charged with second-degree murder
A man accused of causing a fatal crash in Plaza Midwood on March 12 and then running away from the scene was charged with second-degree murder and felony hit-and-run, according to court records.
Thomas Deon Haynes, 47, of Charlotte, is accused of failing to stop at a stop sign at Hamorton Place and colliding with another vehicle, causing one death and two injuries, a Charlotte-Mecklenburg police affidavit said.
Haynes was driving a Honda Odyssey when he collided with a Kia Soul in the 1400 block of The Plaza.
The passenger who died was 23-year-old Sophie Klippel. Klippel wasn’t wearing a seatbelt and was ejected from the vehicle, CMPD said in a news release.
The affidavit said Klippel was the rear passenger. The driver, a 21-year-old, and the passenger, a 62-year-old, were taken to the hospital, CMPD said.
Police found evidence inside the Honda identifying Haynes as the driver, the affidavit said. A 911 caller who witnessed the crash identified Haynes as the only person in the Honda, the affidavit said.
Haynes is being held on no bond at Mecklenburg County Jail, according to records.
This story was originally published March 24, 2026 at 12:43 PM.
