Arrest made in hit-and-run that killed Bragg soldier

Fayetteville, N.C. — Police on Monday arrested a driver suspected of killing a Fort Bragg soldier in a weekend hit-and-run.

McCartha Hawkins, 60, of the 5700 block of Aftonshire Drive, was charged with felony hit and run, misdemeanor death by motor vehicle and failure to yield the right of way.

Sgt. Victor Jose Sencion, 30, was riding a motorcycle on Raeford Road at about 2:30 p.m. Sunday when a pickup turned in front of him at the Revere Street intersection, police said. He was thrown from his motorcycle and was struck by the truck, which drove off without stopping, police said.

Sencion, a communications expert assigned to the U.S. Army Special Operations Command at Fort Bragg, died late Sunday at Cape Fear Valley Medical Center, police said.

He had graduated from the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare School about two months ago, officials said. Before that, he served one tour of duty in Iraq.

Witnesses described the pickup as a tan or champagne-colored Chevrolet Silverado. Police canvassed the area Monday, looking for trucks matching the description.

"They knew they hit somebody. I would imagine there is some kind of damage to the front end of that vehicle," said Theresa Chance, spokeswoman for the Fayetteville Police Department.

Investigators received an tip that led them to Hawkins on Monday afternoon.

The collision came a day after a two-vehicle collision on Reilly Road that saw a motorcyclist airlifted to a hospital for treatment.

Chance said police often see a spike in motorcycle crashes when warm weather arrives.

"We have a lot of motorcyclists out now. The weather was beautiful this weekend," she said. "You need to use the same kind of precaution you use with somebody in a car. Just be careful."

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Just this morning an enormous large white Lexus SUV, coming in to the triangle on 40, come up on me fast and whipped over as he got up on me, I may have been able to reach out and touch his front finder. Than he has the audacity to cut me off in my lane. I went to move to the right lane to get away from this idiot and guess what he cuts me off again! Unbelievable! It wouldn't be scary on two wheels if it wasn't for the idiots out there.

slknkl, I hope that: "select that ride these crotch rockets" isn't a quip on all who ride performance bikes because I do and I can tell you that not all of us are out there riding wheelies, I wouldn't even know how.

68_polara
February 11, 2009 8:17 a.m.

first of all folks.we have a young man here who has died in trying to enjoy a sunny afternoon by riding his motorcycle.second of all,this young man was helping defend this country that each and everyone of you live and breathe in!!it doesnt matter what TYPE of motorcycle he was riding.this man was not at fault yet he was run over and the victim left the scene!! just a slap on the wrist for this man with know regard to human life!!this is WRONG.yes, i'm a biker and when i ride i'm always on the defensive.when i take my harley out for a ride, i ride responsible.i have had MANY TIMES where i have had people pull out in front of me,come over in my lane while riding,tailgate me to where i can just about grab there bumper,and in MOST cases texting and yakkin on there phone!i dont ride wheelies going down the road,weeve in/out of traffic,rev my engine where the limiter is cutting out.you have a select that ride these crotch rockets that do.so dont put ALL of us in that catagory!!

slknkl
February 10, 2009 6:34 p.m.

This story brings back alot of very hard feeling for me and close friends. In September 2008, a close friend was killed by a vehicle committing an illegal turn on Yadkin Road. Everyone wants to blame the motorcyclist but as in my friends case and this one they WERE NOT AT FAULT. This man knew he hit someone and left the scene, if it was a pedestrian would people critize the person walking also??? In another story here in Fayetteville a woman robbed a convience store with a large stick and is in jail with a $25,000 bond and this man KILLS another human being and leaves without any regard to that person and has a $5,000 bond. Fair?? The person who killed my friend was never arrested just charged with misdemeanor death by vehicle and is constantly having her case continued. Meanwhile, his 1 year old son and 5 year daughter don't have their father. I am a driver of 18 yrs and I pay attention to my surroundings and notice cars, bikes, trucks and pedestrians it is called RESPONSIBLE DRIVING!

annabucciarelli
February 10, 2009 1:03 p.m.

daMoFo, Where on earth do you see rides doing all this stuff? Because I sure haven't.

68_polara
February 10, 2009 8:21 a.m.

OSX, the fact is that the vast majority of motorcycle vs. automobile accidents are not the motorcyclist's fault. Believe you me when you are one one your are extra careful just wish everyone was careful all the time. Besides this wasn't the greatest choice of articles to lambaste motorcyclists.

68_polara
February 10, 2009 8:17 a.m.