Whiteville man sentenced for killing man in Forsyth County hit-and-run while driving impaired

FORSYTH COUNTY, N.C. (WGHP) — A man will spend a minimum of seven years behind bars after killing a man in a head-on crash while driving impaired , according to a release from Forsyth County District Attorney James O’Neill’s office.

On Aug. 15, Demetric Christopher Parker, 38, of Whiteville, pleaded guilty to aggravated felony death by motor vehicle, two counts of felony hit and run serious injury or death, driving while impaired, driving while license revoked for impaired revocation and reckless driving.

Parker was charged after he drove impaired and crashed head-on into a motorcycle on Germanton Road in Forsyth County on May 28, 2022.

Parker was reportedly driving south of N.C. 8 when he crossed left of center and hit the motorcycle. The driver of the motorcycle, 55-year-old Dwight Edward Parsons, of Pine Hall, was killed instantly. His wife, Patty Parsons, was seriously injured; she died recently of “unrelated” causes, according to O’Neill’s office.

The driver left the scene, but troopers found him within hours of the crash. His blood alcohol concentration was 0.16.

Parker was driving while his license was revoked following his prior conviction on two separate counts of driving while impaired from April 6, 2017, in Columbus County.

Judge Robert A. Broadie sentenced Parker to a range of seven years to nine years, five months.

According to the district attorney, the Parsons had three children.

“The oldest daughter shared their tremendous grief at losing their father in this senseless act,” O’Neill’s office said in a news release.

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