BRUNSWICK COUNTY — The driver of a truck who struck and killed the passenger of another vehicle has pled guilty to one count of second-degree murder and two counts of felony serious injury by motor vehicle and has been sentenced to 15-20 years in prison.
“On Monday, Cody Kohler pled guilty to one count of Second Degree Murder, as well as two counts of Aggravated Felony Serious Injury by Motor Vehicle. The charges came about after Kohler struck a Ford F350 driven by Justin Milliken with Kohler’s 2015 Chevrolet Silverado at the intersection of Hickman Road and Calabash Road in Brunswick County on July 21, 2017,” according to District Attorney Jon David.
According to the narrative, Kohler failed to stop at a stop sign and was driving at speeds exceeding 65 mph.
“Upon the two vehicles colliding, Terry Evans, Jr, a passenger in Milliken’s F350, was ejected from the truck and severely injured. Milliken and two other occupants in the F350 were injured in the crash as well. All parties were taken to Grand Strand Medical Center in South Carolina to receive treatment. Milliken was treated for injuries to vertebrae in his back, and another passenger, Timothy Fulford, Sr., was treated for injuries to his arm and shoulder. Terry Evans, Jr. suffered injuries to a large portion of his body. Evans fought for his life in Grand Stand Medical Center, but succumbed to his injuries on August 2, 2017,” David said in a press release.
The North Carolina State Highway Patrol opened an investigation into the crash and determined Kohler had a blood alcohol content level of .15 — almost double the legal limit.
“Additionally, the State of North Carolina presented evidence during the plea that Kohler had been convicted of a DWI in 2013 in Brunswick County, and of reckless driving in 2011 in Columbus County, David said.
“Assistant District Attorney Jacob Ward prosecuted the case on behalf of the State of North Carolina,” Ward stated. “DWI fatalities are always preventable. The careless and selfish decision to drive while impaired has killed far too many innocent people. Our office is committed to seeking justice in every one of these cases. We hope that today’s sentence will help bring closure to the incredible families who have had their world turned upside down by this tragedy. We express our deepest gratitude to the North Carolina State Highway Patrol for performing the diligent work that made it possible to prosecute this case.” David concluded.
