Woman Sentenced to Prison After Pleading Guilty in Fatal I-77 DWI Collision

Charlotte, North Carolina — April 10, 2026 — According to WCNC, a woman has been sentenced to prison after pleading guilty in connection with a crash on Interstate 77 that resulted in a man’s death last year.

Maria Leonard was arrested following a three-vehicle collision on May 7, 2025, along I-77 North near Tyvola Road in south Charlotte. Investigators with the North Carolina State Highway Patrol alleged that impairment played a role in the incident, which led to the death of Graham Stuart Myers.

Leonard entered a guilty plea to felony death by vehicle. She was sentenced to serve between 54 and 71 months in prison.

As part of the plea agreement, several additional charges—including driving while impaired, reckless driving, assault with a deadly weapon, and operating a vehicle with an expired registration—were dismissed.

Authorities have not released additional details regarding the crash

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Notes: Our team created this post using secondary sources and has not independently verified all the facts surrounding the accident. If you find any incorrect details, please contact Dewey, Ramsay & Hunt so we can update the post with the most accurate information. This post will be removed if requested.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this post is not intended to be legal or medical advice and is not a solicitation for business. The photograph used in this post is not representative of this accident. If you are injured in an accident, seek medical attention immediately, then speak to a North Carolina personal injury lawyer as soon as possible.