Woman charged in crash that killed 1 pedestrian and injured another, NC cops say

An arrest has been made in the October hit-and-run collision that killed one pedestrian and seriously injured another, Gastonia police say.

Laketta Shunta English, 36, has been identified by detectives as the driver involved, and maps show she lives just over a half a mile north of the crime scene.

She is accused of colliding with Cody Wayne Cochran as he walked along Garrison Boulevard around 12:30 a.m. on Sunday, Oct. 19, according to a news release. The identity and condition of the other pedestrian have not been released.

English was arrested Dec. 15 at her Gastonia home by the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force, officials said.

She has been charged with felony hit-and-run resulting in injury or death and failure to maintain lane control, police said. Bond was set at $500,000, jail record show.

The 2021 Mazda CX-9 SUV believed to have been involved in the collision was impounded Oct. 24 after being found “hidden at a residence within a half-mile of the crash site,” police said.

“This investigation has generated significant public interest,” police said. “A related video posted on the Gastonia Police Department’s social media platforms has been viewed more than 755,000 times. The department thanks the community for the numerous tips and assistance provided.”

Gastonia is about a 25-mile west from uptown Charlotte.

This story was originally published December 15, 2025 at 3:28 PM with the headline "Woman charged in crash that killed 1 pedestrian and injured another, NC cops say."