Knightdale officer's killer gets 23 years for deadly DWI crash on I-540
A man who was drunk and high on cocaine when he hit and killed a Knightdale police officer will serve at least 23 years and will be subject to alcohol monitoring after his release.
Dedric Privette pleaded guilty last month to charges that included second-degree murder, felony death by motor vehicle, driving while impaired and aggressive driving in the October 2021 death of Officer Ryan Hayworth, then 23.
Judge Rebeca Holt on Friday sentenced Privette to 157 months to 201 months on the second-degree murder charge. He got additional time for the other charges to add up to a minimum of 23 years behind bars.
Hayworth was a member of the National Guard who did a tour in Kuwait before joining the Knightdale Police Department.
On Oct. 17, 2021, he was working the scene of a crash just after 2:30 a.m. on Interstate 540, when Privette drove through reflective cones and flares and into Hayworth's SUV. The police report from the collision shows Privette never slowed before he hit the SUV.
Hayworth and Knightdale Officer Cody Hagler were thrown from their SUV by the impact of the crash. Hayworth died at the hospital hours later. Hagler was seriously injured.
In court Friday, Hagler told Privette, "I cannot express the anger I have towards you. If you take the life of a law enforcement officer, I don't think you should be forgiven."
Mike Melugin, whom the Knightdale officers had stopped to help, was pinned between an SUV and the guardrail, and ended up losing a leg. He is in a wheelchair and will never walk again, he told the court.
Melugin, a veteran, husband and father of three, brought court observers to tears when he held up his uniform and broke down saying, “Your honor, this represents who I was."
As prosecutors laid out the case against Privette, they noted he admitted to partying in Wake Forest before the crash. A bottle of tequila was found in his car. Investigators said blood tests showed Privette had a blood alcohol content of at least .18 at the time of the crash.
Hayworth's parents both addressed the court before Privette was sentenced.
Mother Lisa Hayworth, said, "The day I lost Ryan, I lost a piece of myself in my heart."
Father Tim Hayworth, who retired after serving as chief of police in Zebulon, said, “We will never forget that night. We are constantly reminded Ryan was stolen from us.
"With taxis and ride shares, there are zero excuses for what Privette did. He committed murder.”
Privette's daughter, Iyanla Privette, spoke on his behalf.
"This was a mistake, and we can’t go back and change it, and I’m sorry for the families and all the tragedies," she said. "On behalf of my dad, this doesn’t define him.”
Hayworth's father noted that Privette was sentenced to the same time in prison as his son Ryan was alive.
"Ryan was only 23. This guy will only spend the time was Ryan was alive," Tim Hayworth said. "23 years to me is not enough. I never want to see him get out."
The Hayworth family has also filed a civil lawsuit against Privette.
Officer Ryan Hayworth's legacy and sacrifice is visible daily to drivers along Knightdale Boulevard, where the bridge over I-540 was named in his honor.
