Lumberton car chase leads to woman's death, driver's arrest

A Robeson County community is mourning the loss of a woman whose vehicle was hit head-on by someone being chased by Lumberton police Saturday.

The victim's son told WRAL News he had just got out of the car moments before the fatal crash.

According to Lumberton Police 57-year-old Howard McNair took off from a traffic stop after they discovered the Ford Mustang he was driving was stolen.

Police radio traffic confirms they were on a low-speed chase through downtown Lumberton.

The crash happened on the 2nd Street Bridge. McNair's vehicle collided head-on with one driven by 55-year-old Cynthia Coe.

Cynthia Coe's son Charles Coe said his mother had just let him out of the car a block away when he heard the fatal crash.

"My momma did a full 360 at the bridge," said Charles Coe.

He says his sister 36-year-old Jennifer Thompson was also in the car.

"My sister told me the Mustang was driving. He had his headlights off," said Charles Coe. "She's got a broken leg, the left leg. She had to have surgery. Her right hip is messed up. She's got a cracked rib."

McNair has been charged with second-degree murder, aggravated felony death by motor vehicle, aggravated felony serious injury by vehicle, habitual impaired driving, felony flee to elude arrest, larceny of motor vehicle, driving while impaired, failing to stop for blue lights and siren, careless and reckless driving, driving while license revoked, left of center, failing to wear seatbelt and failing to burn headlights.

McNair’s bond was set at $1 million, and he was being held at the Robeson County Detention Center.

McNair was also injured in the crash.

Police first tried to pull McNair over on Elm Street near 24th Street after they determined that the Mustang he was driving had been reported stolen earlier in the day.

Officers followed McNair in the Mustang on Elm Street to Second Street and onto the bridge, where McNair crossed the center line, hitting the women.