Man with 30-year history of traffic violations is suspect in deadly head-on crash

A man with a nearly 30-year history of neglecting the rules of the road is now facing charges for killing a woman while driving impaired.

On May 8, William Oscar Braddy hit Carolyn Robbins Hyde with his car on Highway 258.

He's facing several charges in connection with that crash, including felony death by vehicle and driving while impaired.

Braddy has a long track record of violations, including multiple DWI and reckless driving charges and speeding violations.

Another one of Braddy's victims says, "He shouldn't have been on the road when he hit me."

Michael Cooper was hit by Braddy, also on Highway 258, in September 2023.

The only charges Braddy faced in that crash were for crossing the center line and having fictitious identification.

When Cooper heard of the latest crash involving the same man, he thought it could have been him.

"The first thing I did was get on the phone and call my wife. It could have easily been the same outcome," he said.

Cooper isn't sure if Braddy was under the influence when he was hit, but a police report obtained by WRAL News shows that officers suspected he was impaired. He was never charged with DWI in that crash.

WRAL News asked the Scotland Neck Police Department, which investigated the crash, about those charges, but did not get an answer.

Cooper said he believed Braddy was under the influence.

WRAL News took Braddy's long arrest record to the Edgecombe County District Attorney's Office to find out why so many of his charges over the years were dismissed.

A DA's assistant said that some violations were corrected or dismissed when Braddy pleaded guilty to another charge.

Legally, he can still be on the road, but Cooper is shocked by that.

“I had three surgeries and stayed in the hospital for six days. I was in rehab and a wheelchair for three months," Cooper said. "It was life-changing."