[Ed. note: The piece has been updated since press with more details released from the Wilmington Police Department, including the victim’s name.]
WILMINGTON — A 34-year-old woman faces multiple charges in an incident that left one person dead at a popular bar on Greenfield Street in Wilmington early Tuesday.
Michelle Lane Masiello of Carolina Beach allegedly drove a Jeep into the brightly colored fence encasing the outdoor patio of Satellite Bar and Lounge around 12:30 a.m. on Dec. 30. The vehicle also struck and killed 31-year-old Alec Chambers, who died at the scene, according to Wilmington Police Department.
Arrest warrants indicate Masiello faces four charges, including three misdemeanors and one felony:
- Death by vehicle (F)
- Driving while impaired (M)
- Reckless driving to endanger (M)
- Injury to real property (M)
According to WPD, Masiello had just exited Satellite at 120 Greenfield St. prior to the crash. The vehicle struck Chambers while he was standing by the edge of the side parking lot along Greenfield Street. The vehicle then struck a tree before hitting the metal fencing surrounding the outdoor seating area.
Masiello was taken into custody and transported to Novant Health NHRMC for a medical evaluation before her arrest.
There has been an immediate 30-day suspension of her license and upon arrest Masiello received a $255,000 secured bond. She appeared virtually in court at 11 a.m. on Tuesday and returns on Jan. 15, 2026.
“We extend our deepest condolences to the friends and family members of Mr. Chambers,” the WPD said in a release.
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