The story of a groom, best man, and groomsman dying in a car accident an hour before the wedding in North Carolina made national headlines last month. Now the person allegedly responsible for the fatal car accident, which took place on April 18, has been charged with three counts of murder. A grand jury in Whiteville, NC charged 43-year-old John Kelley of second-degree murder. Kelley has already been charged with driving while intoxicated.
The accident occurred on a two-lane highway near Council, North Carolina, when the wedding party was on their way to the church for the ceremony. While driving on Highway 214, a car driven by Kelley crossed the double-yellow line, drifted into their lane and struck the wedding party’s Honda head on.
North Carolina State Police say that Kelley was driving 20 miles above the speed limit and that various alcohol containers were found in the car following the fatal head-on car accident, which took place on Sunday afternoon. Kelley’s blood alcohol level was 0.12 – above the legal limit of 0.08. Following the accident, Kelley was listed serious condition at New Hanover Regional Medical Center. Kelley’s 17-year-old son, who was also involved in the two-vehicle accident, suffered minor injuries.
Everyone in the car on the way to the wedding was killed. The tragic car crash took the lives of the 23-year-old groom, Brandon Tedder; 19-year-old best man Brandon Mintz; and 13-year-old groomsman and Tedder’s brother, Daniel Sykes. Kelley’s wife has not commented on the accident or on the charges.
Angela Bonahm, his fiancée, was at the church in her wedding dress waiting for the men to arrive for the ceremony when she learned about the fatal wreck.