A late-night drive home from a party in Henderson turned fatal early Sunday when a car flipped over on West Andrews Avenue, killing the lone passenger and sending the driver to the hospital. Henderson Police say the vehicle was traveling above the posted speed limit when it rolled near the intersection with Chestnut and Garnett streets, and now two local news outlets are reporting conflicting ages for the woman who died.
According to The Daily Dispatch, the passenger killed in the crash was 30-year-old Aleida Chandome Matias, a Henderson resident. But local radio station WIZS, citing a Henderson Police Department press release, identified the victim as 17-year-old Aleida Matias, also of Henderson. The discrepancy remains unresolved, and it is not clear from either account which age is accurate.
Henderson Police confirmed that officers responded to the crash scene at 2:17 a.m. Sunday, September 27, finding the car had rolled over on West Andrews Avenue between Chestnut and Garnett streets, per the station's report citing the department's release. The Daily Dispatch reported that Matias was riding as the sole passenger alongside an unnamed male driver when the vehicle flipped; officers pronounced her dead at the scene, while the driver was taken to an area hospital for treatment.
Speed Cited as Factor, but No Charges Filed
A preliminary investigation by Henderson Police indicated the vehicle was traveling in excess of the posted speed limit at the time of the crash, though the department's press release did not specify the actual speed, the Daily Dispatch reported. As of the paper's reporting, authorities had filed no charges in connection with the crash. Matias was reportedly traveling home from a party when the collision occurred.
Under North Carolina law, a driver who unintentionally causes a death by violating a non-impaired traffic rule like speeding can face Misdemeanor Death by Vehicle, a Class A1 misdemeanor punishable by up to 150 days in jail, according to Powers Law Firm. Should crash reconstruction later reveal evidence of impairment, the charge could be elevated to Felony Death by Vehicle, a Class D felony carrying up to 204 months in prison, per Hatch, Little & Bunn, LLP. No such charges have been reported in this case.
Family Remembers a Kind-Hearted Adventurer
A GoFundMe campaign apparently posted by Emanuel Chandomi is seeking help covering funeral expenses for Matias's family, the Daily Dispatch reported. Chandomi described her as a genuine, kind-hearted person whose presence touched many lives. Her obituary, as cited in that report, said she was born in Granville County, attended Granville County public schools, and worked as an employee at Wendy's.
Matias was remembered as a lover of the outdoors and adventure, and her obituary described her as devoted to family. The crash marks the latest entry in a county that has struggled with traffic safety: Vance County recorded five fatal traffic collisions and 367 non-fatal injury crashes in 2024, according to NCDOT crash data. A North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services special emphasis report also ranked Vance County among the state's top six counties for motor vehicle occupant injury rates, recording 1,948.4 occupant injuries per 100,000 residents in 2022.
Speed a Persistent Factor Statewide
Speeding contributed to 21.4 percent of all motor vehicle fatalities across North Carolina in 2024, claiming 370 lives statewide, the NCDOT figures show. West Andrews Avenue itself sits in a tightly built downtown corridor; a Federal Railroad Administration planning study for the Southeast High Speed Rail corridor noted the roadway is constrained by nearby small-lot development and rail infrastructure.
Henderson Police are asking anyone with information about the crash to come forward. Witnesses can contact the department directly at 252-438-4141 or reach Henderson-Vance Crime Stoppers anonymously at 252-492-1925, including through the P3 Tips smartphone app, which allows mobile messages and photo evidence. No charges have been filed as the investigation continues.
