The Wilmington skate community is mourning the loss of Alec Chambers after police confirmed he was the victim in a fatal crash that happened Tuesday night outside a local bar.
The Wilmington Police Department said the incident took place on Dec. 30 at Satellite Bar and Lounge along Greenfield Street. According to investigators, Chambers, who was 31 years old, was standing near the edge of the side parking lot when he was struck by a Jeep. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police identified the driver of the Jeep as 34 year old Michelle Lane Masiello. According to WPD, after hitting Chambers, the vehicle continued forward and crashed into a tree and the metal fencing surrounding the bar’s outdoor seating area.
Arrest warrants show that Masiello has been charged with felony death by vehicle, misdemeanor driving while impaired, misdemeanor reckless driving to endanger, and misdemeanor injury to real property. She is currently being held at the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office Detention Center under a secured bond set at 255,000 dollars.
Masiello appeared in court virtually on Dec. 30, and her next court date is scheduled for Jan. 15 at 9 a.m.
News of Chambers’ death has been hard on friends, family, and those who knew him through skating. While police continue their investigation, many in the local scene have taken to social media to share memories and messages of support for those closest to him.
Satellite Bar and Lounge announced that it would close temporarily following the incident. The business shared the update through an Instagram post, asking for understanding as they take time to process the loss.
As the case moves forward, the Wilmington community continues to remember Alec Chambers and the impact he had on the people around him.