UNC tennis player to face additional charges

Hillsborough, N.C. — A University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill tennis player charged with DWI faces additional charges in connection with a hit-and-run earlier this month.

Chris Kearney, 20, of Irvine, Calif., is expected to be charged Thursday with two counts of felonious serious injury by motor vehicle, Chapel Hill police Lt. Kevin Gunter said.

Police said Kearney's SUV veered off the road in the 200 block of North Columbia Street around 2:30 a.m. on Aug. 17, hit a wall and struck two female UNC students walking on the sidewalk.

He registered a blood alcohol level of 0.18, which is more than twice the legal limit for drivers age 21 or older.

Kearney, who according to his attorney, has withdrawn from UNC for the semester, already faces two counts of inflicting personal injury, one count of felony hit-and-run causing personal injury and possessing a fake ID and one count each of driving while impaired and consuming alcohol under the age of 21.

Family members of the victims, Carolyn Anne Kubitschek, 21, of Asheville, and Casey Marie LeSawyer, 21, of Weaverville, say they are expected to miss at least the first semester of their senior year. Both were severely hurt and suffered many broken bones

Kearney was the Atlantic Coast Conference 2007 Freshman Player of the Year. He ranks second on the team for singles and doubles victories and was ranked third nationally among doubles players in fall 2007.

25 Comments

WRAL.com welcomes your comments on this story. All comments are moderated prior to publication based on our posting guidelines. Please review them prior to posting and if your message is not approved.

VIEW ALL 25 COMMENTS

This story is closed for comments.

Latest Comments

Those that live in glass houses should not throw stones

alpha
August 29, 2008 8:37 a.m.

Focus on these young men, yes, but what about the other side, the bars and people who are serving the alcohol....they should also be held accountable for serving too much and letting these young adults drive.

alpha
August 29, 2008 8:36 a.m.

MSN93 - I know that they are adults and I know that they shouldn't have to worry about being runned down. All I was asking is that why would they be out so late. Most 21 yr olds that I know are usually asleep at this hour.

mom2allstar
August 28, 2008 5:41 p.m.

"Even though it was not the girls fault, what were they doing out walking on the sidewalk at 2:30 in the morning??"

These were 21 year old women. They have every right to walk where they want, when they want, without having to worry about a crazy drunk running them down.

MSN93
August 28, 2008 4:48 p.m.

My dad told me from a young age that once I was 18/out on my own... don't call him to come bail me out of jail. Guess what, I never had to. I'll tell my kids the same thing. Bottom line, you lie in the bed you make and take responsibility.