Judge keeps bond for man with troubling driving history in fatal Charlotte hit-and-run ...Middle East

CHARLOTTE (QUEEN CITY NEWS) -- A suspect charged with second-degree murder after allegedly hitting and killing a 27-year-old man, at speeds over 100 MPH in uptown Charlotte, had his bond unchanged by a judge on Thursday while attempting to lower it.

The State of North Carolina filed a motion on Thursday, March 13, to increase the bond of Mache Ulysses Darby, who is charged with the fatal hit-and-run death of Ryan Zadrozny.

The motion came after Darby, who was driving a black Mercedes-Benz, allegedly struck and killed Zadrozny on West Morehead Street in uptown Charlotte on December 2, 2024.

The incident, which happened around 2:10 a.m., reportedly escalated quickly when CMPD said Darby fled the scene, only to be located by officers minutes later in a parking lot near South Mint and West Palmer Streets, just two city blocks from the crash site.

Court records state the situation worsened when Darby reportedly tried to escape again, leading to a brief but intense chase that ended after police said he crashed into two parked vehicles.

Thankfully, no one was in those vehicles at the time.

Darby was taken to the hospital with minor injuries, where law enforcement began to suspect impairment. According to medical records, his blood alcohol concentration (BAC) was recorded at 0.15 at 3:08 a.m., well above the legal limit. Further testing, however, revealed a BAC of 0.12 at 5:08 a.m. when a blood sample was submitted for analysis.

CMPD charged Darby in December with multiple offenses, including felony death by motor vehicle, felony fleeing and eluding police, reckless driving, and second-degree murder.

But the severity of the case doesn't end there. Court documents report the crash reconstruction by CMPD's Major Crash Investigation Unit revealed further details about Darby's actions before the fatal crash. Darby was reportedly traveling at an average speed of 105 MPH when he struck Zadrozny. In the moments leading up to his second collision, he was speeding at 78 MPH, and just prior to the crash, he was still reportedly speeding at 85 MPH, showing no signs of braking.

For context, the posted speed limit in both locations where the crashes occurred is 35 MPH, according to court records. The defendant's driving history is also troubling.

Darby had a valid driver’s license at the time of the crash, but his record shows several instances of driving while his license was suspended. Furthermore, he has been involved in multiple accidents over the years, including a prior fatal hit-and-run incident in 2011, records show.

Given the seriousness of these charges and his history, the State was requesting that the Court set Darby's bond at "no bond." This request was based on N.C.G.S. 15A-533, which allows individuals charged with second-degree murder to be held without bond.

On Thursday, the judge said the bond currently set for the second-degree murder charge, at $500,000, "is reasonable and therefore, the court would order that the bond remain the same."

For the charges of felony death by motor vehicle, felony fleeing and eluding police, and reckless driving, the bond has been set at $1 million secured. This case is due back in court in May.

MORE FROM QCNEWS.COM