The man charged as responsible for the wreck that led to the death of Tiffany Nicole Smith and her unborn son Matthew had his case continued to April 24 Wednesday in Lenoir County District Court.
According to a closed-circuit video from a nearby gas station and law enforcement accounts, Fred Lee Green, 63, of La Grange, on Nov. 6 pulled out into U.S. 70 East in a gold pickup truck and cut off a tractor trailer. The driver of the tractor trailer reacted by veering off into the B.J.’s Grill parking lot, where it struck the car of Smith, 22, and her 2-year-old son De’Shawn. Smith was pregnant with Matthew at the time and preparing to place De’Shawn in the back seat.
She was transported to Vidant Medical Center in Greenville. Smith lost Matthew on Nov. 9 and died on Nov. 11. A coroner’s report listed the cause of death as the result of extensive injuries to her abdomen, pelvis and legs. Smith and Matthew were buried at Westview Cemetery on Nov. 16.
Green expressed remorse following the wreck.
He is currently without legal representation but may have an attorney retained by the time of his next court date.
Wes Wolfe can be reached at 252-559-1075 or wes.wolfe@kinston.com. Follow him on Twitter @WolfeReports.
Breakout Box
Fred Lee Green is charged with:
- N.C.G.S. 20-141.4(a)(2): Misdemeanor death by vehicle
- N.C.G.S. 20-154: Unsafe movement