10 people, including 3 football players, facing charges for Chapel Hill crash that killed UNC student

Seven more people are facing charges in connection with a fatal crash that killed a UNC student in January, bringing the total to 10 charged.

North Carolina Alcohol Law Enforcement (ALE) agents believe alcohol was a contributing factor to the Jan. 21 single-car crash at the intersection of Raleigh Road and West Barbee Chapel Road. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill student Molly Elizabeth Rotunda, 20, of Greensboro, a passenger in the car, died in the crash.

Flemeeja Brewer, who was driving the car, appeared in court briefly to hear her charges on Monday. Zachary O'Brien Rice is scheduled to appear in court March 7. The rest of those charged have yet to be served their court summons.

ALE agents say Rotunda and others who were under 21 were served alcoholic beverages at two Franklin Street bars:

1. Still Life at 159 E. Franklin St.
2. Might as Well at 206 W. Franklin St.

10 charged in connection with crash that killed UNC student

• Flemeeja Brewer, 20, the driver of the car that crashed, is facing multiple felony charges. She was driving the car in which Rotunda died.
• Brianna Tiera Pinson, 21, of Greensboro, was also in the car. She faces two counts of aiding and abetting consumption of alcohol by a person younger than 21.

Brewer and Pinson suffered non-life-threatening injuries in the crash.

• Travis Shaw, 19, was charged with underage possession/consumption of alcohol, five counts of aid/abet underage possession/consumption of alcohol, and an outstanding order for arrest for failing to appear in Durham County for possession of marijuana, underage possession of alcoholic beverages and unauthorized possession. Warrants show Shaw allegedly bought three bottles of tequila at Still Life.
• Zachary O'Brien Rice, 20, of Virginia, was charged with driving after consuming while younger than 21, consuming/possession of alcohol younger than 21 and exceeding a posted speed limit.
• Malaki Hamrick, 19, was charged with underage possession/consumption of alcohol.

Those three young men – Hamrick, Shaw and Rice – are listed on the UNC football roster.

Shaw was arrested in July 2023 with marijuana and liquor in a water bottle. He was charged with possession of the pot and of alcohol underage. He failed to show up for a September 2023 court date on those charges.

• Karissa Webb, 22, an employee of Still Life, was charged with three counts of sell/give alcohol to underage.
• Annelle McNair, 24, an employee of Still Life, was charged with five counts of sell/give alcohol to underage.

Both Webb and McNair were also students at UNC. WRAL News reached out to Still Life for a comment and is waiting to hear back.

Three others are charged with underage drinking:

• Cameren Spencer, 20, was charged with underage possession/consumption of alcohol and two counts of giving malt beverages or unfortified wine to anyone younger than 21 years old.
• Caden Spender, 22, was charged with six counts of aid/abet underage possession/consumption of alcohol.
• Maliyah Pellum, 19, was charged with underage possession/consumption of alcohol and aid/abet underage possession/consumption of alcohol.

Car was going 124 mph in Chapel Hill crash

Around 2:30 a.m. on Jan. 21, officers with the Chapel Hill Police Department responded to a single-car crash at the intersection of Raleigh Road and West Barbee Chapel Road.

A crash report indicated Brewer was traveling east on Raleigh Road, lost control and drove into a wooded area, hitting a street sign and trees. Documents show the car was going 124 mph in a 45-mph zone. The car rolled and landed on its roof, according to the crash report. 20-year-old Rotunda was killed in the crash. Brewer and another passenger were also injured.

WRAL News was told street racing may have been a factor in the crash.

Brewer, the driver who survived the crash, faces the following charges:

• Felony death by vehicle
• Felony serious injury by vehicle
• Involuntary manslaughter
• Driving while impaired
• Speeding
• Failure to maintain lane control
• Driving after consuming while younger than 21
• Fraudulent use of ID to commit underage offense
• Transport/possession of an open container of alcoholic beverage
• Careless and reckless driving
• Exceeding a posted speed

'I don't think this will change anything'

"I think it's really sad that this happened," said one student Ellie O'Connell. "Alcohol can be really dangerous."

North Carolina Alcohol Law Enforcement launched an investigation and concluded that underage drinking played a major role in the fatal crash.

Some students told WRAL News they don't feel like the bar employees should be held responsible.

"I don't necessarily think it's their fault," said another student Lauren Morace. "They see so many IDs every night. It must be hard on them. I almost feel like when you get a fake ID, you know what you're getting into. I do feel bad for them."

Ayman Bejjani feels that for a lot of people the college experience involves drinking and going out. He doesn't think this crackdown on underage drinking will have a big impact.

"I don't think this will change anything, because the biggest fear is getting caught for underage drinking – yet the majority of college students do it," Bejjani said.