FAYETTEVILLE, NC – Two sisters racing to their younger brother’s birthday party caused a fatal crash that killed three high school football players in Fayetteville, North Carolina, authorities said.
Dymond Monroe, 21, and Destini Genwright, 19, were driving separate vehicles on October 8 when Monroe’s Honda Civic veered off the road at excessive speed, resulting in the deadly collision. The crash occurred shortly after football practice at E.E. Smith High School.
The three victims, all passengers in Monroe’s vehicle, were identified as E.E. Smith High School football players Jai-Hyon Elliot, 18, Nicholas Williams, 17, and Trevor Merritt, 17. All three young men died in the crash.
Court documents indicate Monroe was driving 76 mph in a 45 mph zone at the time of impact, more than 30 mph over the posted limit. The excessive speed combined with the reckless racing behavior proved fatal for the three teenage passengers.
Destini Genwright appeared in court this week facing four misdemeanor charges: willful speed competition, speeding, careless and reckless driving, and an insurance violation. She was released on $10,000 bond with a court date scheduled for December.
Her sister Dymond Monroe sustained critical injuries in the crash and remains hospitalized. She faces the same four misdemeanors as her sister, plus three felony counts of involuntary manslaughter for the deaths of Elliot, Williams, and Merritt.
Assistant Police Chief Todd Joyce addressed the tragedy in a statement, saying the crash should serve as a stark reminder about the dangers of reckless driving, particularly illegal street racing.
“This senseless tragedy cut short the lives of three promising young men with their entire futures ahead of them,” Joyce said. “When drivers engage in this type of dangerous behavior, they put not only themselves but everyone around them at risk.”
The football community at E.E. Smith High School has been devastated by the loss of the three student-athletes. School officials have made counselors available to students and staff struggling with the deaths.
The case highlights the deadly consequences of street racing, an illegal activity that has claimed numerous lives across the country. Law enforcement agencies nationwide have intensified efforts to crack down on illegal racing, but the dangerous practice persists.
Prosecutors will determine whether to pursue additional charges against Dymond Monroe once she recovers from her injuries and is able to stand trial. The felony involuntary manslaughter charges carry potential prison sentences if she is convicted.
The investigation into the crash continues as authorities work to build their case against both sisters for their roles in the fatal race.
