North Carolina Driver Faces Murder, Texting Charge

A North Carolina woman faces murder and other charges after authorities say she was texting a message when she hit and killed a 75-year-old woman walking to visit a neighbor.

The North Carolina Highway Patrol said 45-year-old Belinda Strange Hudspeth also hit several garbage cans, a fence, a mailbox and a telephone pole in Belmont after driving her SUV off the road.

Trooper J. J. Waters says Hudspeth was texting while driving and ran off the right side of the road, hitting 75-year-old Lavon Ramsey. Ramsey died after being taken to a Gastonia hospital.

A message left at a telephone number listed for Hudspeth in Gastonia was not returned Sunday.

Hudspeth was charged with second-degree murder, driving while impaired, reckless driving and driving without a license.