A North Carolina man has been sentenced to at least 16 years in prison after pleading guilty to the fatal hit-and-run of a pedestrian in Charlotte. Mache Darby, 40, expressed deep remorse in court for his actions, telling the victim’s family, “I’m very, very sorry. This could have been avoided.”
On December 1, 2024, Darby was speeding through an intersection in his Mercedes-Benz at 105 mph when he struck 23-year-old Ryan Zadrozny, a New Jersey native visiting friends.
Zadrozny was walking through the intersection when Darby hit him and continued driving without stopping, according to an arrest affidavit reviewed by Law&Crime. Zadrozny died at the scene, and Darby fled the scene but was later apprehended after crashing his vehicle during a police chase.
Previous Conviction and Alcohol Involvement
At the time of the crash, Darby admitted to having consumed tequila at a club before getting behind the wheel. He was found to be impaired at the time of the fatal incident. This was not Darby’s first brush with the law; he had been convicted of another fatal hit-and-run in 2011, for which he served prison time and probation.
Darby was initially held on a $1.5 million bond and faced multiple charges, including second-degree murder, death by vehicle, hit-and-run resulting in serious injury or death, eluding arrest, and reckless driving.
Family’s Heartache and Courtroom Emotions
In the courtroom, Darby appeared remorseful and apologized to Zadrozny’s family. Despite his apology, the heartache for the victim’s family remained palpable. Zadrozny’s uncle, Kevin Wallace, told a local news station, “The heartache just never ends,” noting that no amount of punishment could bring his nephew back.
The emotional toll on both sides was evident, with both the family and Darby leaving the courtroom in tears, according to WSOC’s coverage of the hearing. Darby’s actions, which could have been avoided, left a family devastated, and his prior convictions raised concerns about his disregard for life on the road.
Darby was sentenced after pleading guilty to the charges, marking the end of a tragic case that highlights the dangerous consequences of impaired and reckless driving.
