CONCORD — A teenage driver faces charges in the accident that killed his 17-year-old brother early Saturday morning.
Darius Lee Agnew, 16, of Concord, was driving with a revoked license when he lost control of a 2003 PT Cruiser on Zion Church Road near Webb Road at 3 a.m. Saturday, according to Concord Police Sgt. Tim Hartsell.
Agnew also was driving 70 mph hour in a 45-mph zone, said Hartsell, head of the Concord Traffic Safety Unit.
Investigators found no skid marks on the pavement, Hartsell said, indicating the young driver didn't hit his brakes until he reached the grass. But the grass was wet with dew and braking did little to stop the car, Hartsell said.
The PT Cruiser was traveling 55 mph when it hit a ditch culvert, and the impact launched the car into the air, Hartsell said this morning.
The car traveled 48 feet in the air and flipped, landing on its top before hitting a utility pole, Hartsell said.
Agnew's brother, Brandon Mitchell Agnew, 17, was a passenger in the back seat of the car.
Investigators believe Brandon Agnew was thrown from the car while it was in the air. Hartsell said the 17-year-old was thrown an additional 130 feet from where the car landed before striking a fence post.
Hartsell said the fence post was more like a utility pole in thickness, and the collision likely caused the fatal injuries.
Brandon Agnew died at Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte.
Nicholas O'Brian Mitchell, 17, of Concord and a cousin of the Agnews, was the other passenger in the car. Mitchell and Darius Agnew were treated at Carolinas Medical Center-NorthEast in Concord and released.
Hartsell said some charges are likely, and but the Cabarrus County District Attorney's Office will make the final decision. He expects investigators to present their findings to prosecutors this week.
Hartsell said alcohol was not involved in the accident.
MOM : Wednesday, July 16, 2008 7:42 PM
MOM WAS TRYING TO RAISE THOSE KIDS BY HERSELF, DAD IS AT FAULT
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REVOKE LICENSE : Wednesday, July 16, 2008 7:40 PM
HOW CAN YOU HAVE A REVOKE LICENSE WHEN U HAVE A PERMIT?
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FAITH
DEATH ROW : Wednesday, July 16, 2008 7:38 PM
THE PERSON THAT SAID HE DESERVES DEATH ROW, U CAN TELL THAT THAT PERSON IS A VERY UNHAPPY PERSON, MAYBE SATAN HIMSELF.
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dad
life : Wednesday, July 16, 2008 7:35 PM
life isn't a bed of rose's,there r quite a few people that make's mistakes,I know brandon personally, and he allway's worn his seat belt,this was just one time he didn't, but knowing brandon he would not want anything to happen to his little brother, because they all made a choice, and one of brandon choices was not to place on his seat belt, but we know that he is in heaven so that really ease the pain, for me but people need to learn from this experience that we r not in control but god is always in control, but i know he is in heaven.
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a mother
i am sleeping at 3 a.m. : Wednesday, July 16, 2008 10:30 AM
I find it amazing that people think you can know where your children are and what they are doing 24 hours a day. Most parents work and at 3 a.m., they are probably sleeping. Or if they work 3rd shift, they're at work. No one is given parenting programming of the brain when our children are born. We can only pray and ask God to help us be the best parents we can be. And ultimately God is in charge. Sometimes seemingly bad things happen when we are least expecting. But God is in charge and we just hope that from everything that happens to make us sad, there will come from it some good for someone. Just as the family has said, let this be a lesson for other youngsters. And for those who choose to spew the negativity and the ugly words, take a real look at YOUR life. You must be suffering in some way, that you would leave such ugliness for people to read who may be grieving at this time. Hopefully if your turn comes at the graveside, someone will be there to give you a kind word, as you are NOT doing here. God bless to all!
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: Wednesday, July 16, 2008 6:03 AM
would all of you saying that he will be punished enough because he killed his brother be saying the same thing if he killed someone that was not a family member? he killed another human, regardless of the relation to him, and the burden he has to bear mentally is no one's problem but his own. he needs to sit in his jail cell for a long time.
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A disgusted parent
Where were the parents : Tuesday, July 15, 2008 10:51 PM
16 revoked license? Driving and at 3am? Oh I forgot the parents are not in charge the children are. So not to be mean or belittle the lost they are feeling. But do you now know your part in this situation? And this is a lesson he will always live with and you can't say it was an accident. It wasn't he had the car the keys and was driving. HE KNEW WHAT HE WAS DOING. So mom and dad do your self a favor let him pay the price and than move on. Support but DON"T BAIL HIM OUT. Let him face it. Act like a man be treated like a man.
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jovi
those are my two brothers your talkin about : Tuesday, July 15, 2008 10:41 PM
darius doesnt deserve to go to jail he has to face what he did to brandon for the rest of his life deal with the pain he caused to his mom his dad and me no my lil brother doesnt deserve this please if any of you can help him please do please dont let them take my lil brother away
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: Tuesday, July 15, 2008 10:27 PM
Why in the world should the parents be held responsible? That's absurd. When I was 16 I was out at 3am all the time on weekends. And yes, I probably at one time or another drove 70mph in a 45. My parents were in no way, shape, or form responsible for my actions. I just don't understand where some people get their ideas...
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Bubbles
Ugh : Tuesday, July 15, 2008 9:18 PM
The driver of the car earned himself a well deserved, extended stay in prison. I don't see how the parents are at fault in this scenario. I will agree that parenting plays a vital role in the behavior of young people, but they can't be held accountable for everything they do.
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no one really can tell me this!!!! : Tuesday, July 15, 2008 7:17 PM
I dont think the parnets have anything to do with this. When I was their ages and I wanted out of the house it was called a bedroom window I would wait until my knew my parnets were asleep and out I went and was back before they got up and I was my fault not my parnets they tried to teach me right from wrong but it is called "I can do what I want and I will if I can" so it dont matter if the parnets were there or not, it dont matter how they raised them, it dont want what the parnets said, it is what they wanted to do and they do it now they have this to deal with. I cant sit here and say that the 16yr old dont need to get punished for this but it wasnt his fault his 17yr old brother didnt put a seatbelt on, and it was the 17yrs old fault for letting the 16yr old drive knowing he didnt have any licenses but it was the 16yr olds fault for speeding and driving with no license I dont think they need to charge him right now because I know he is hurting badly knowing he was the reason his brother is dead that will be with him for the rest of his life does he need jail time sure but not life in there so all you people asking where his parnets were they were the same place mine were asleep and didnt know anything and those of you wanting charges taken out on the parnets it wasnt there fault they didnt know anything so no they shouldnt be charged for any wrong doing. You going to tell me you sit with your head up your kids butt all the time and tell me you know where they are all the time even with they or you are sleeping???...NO I DONT THINK SO!!! so lay off the parnets and let them put their 17yr to rest and then deal with their 16yr olds court case because NO ONE CAN TELL ME THEY KNOW WHERE THERE KIDS ARE 24HRS DAY you might be one of those people like my parnets and not really know that your kid is out of the house when you are asleep!!!!!
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Amanda
Bless the family and misjudgers : Tuesday, July 15, 2008 6:32 PM
Those boys were demonstrating behavior that any other teen would.they just got caught.bless you all and i pray that all the misjudgers would let this family grieve without more negativity.
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Amanda&T.j.
the lord called a name, that name was Brandon. : Tuesday, July 15, 2008 6:14 PM
Lord,bless this family and their misjudgers.these boys made a mistake.they werent doing anything more than any typical teen.the others just dont get caught.my boyfriend was one of the 1st on the scene.he works 3rd at CVG.THOSE BOYS CRIED OUT for help for brandon but still didnt realize what was about to be.please dont misjudge.just pray and GOD will do the rest.
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I do not agree parents are at fault : Tuesday, July 15, 2008 5:57 PM
Are you suppose to have a "leash" tied your children 24 hours a day 7 days a week 365 days a year? I do not think so, obviously the person's that commented the parents should be at fault,probably are not even parents themselves. These teenagers are old enough to know right from wrong, and didn't make a good decision by taking their mother's vehicle.
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A. Campbell
Two young lives lost.... : Tuesday, July 15, 2008 5:09 PM
We all know this young man used poor judgment and maybe some feel he should suffer the legal consequences.And we know the potential danger he posed to others on the roadway.And we all know when we were sixteen that tragedy only befell other people,other families.But what we all should never have to know is the emotional death this family is living now.To lose a child to carnal death is likened only to losing the will within you to live,to have your inner voice become quiet because the pain is indescribable and words become unspeakable. I am sure it applies to losing a brother too....This young man needs love and support because we all know he feels the quilt of his actions that night...His parents don't need to lose another child. And we all need to keep this family in our prayers.
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: Tuesday, July 15, 2008 5:04 PM
He should be put behind bars and never see the light of day again! I would even go as far to say that he should be on death row! What we need is a justice system around here, that would put a stop to some of this stuff!
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CONNIE
Why shouldn't he be charged with something? : Tuesday, July 15, 2008 4:08 PM
This boy is a grown adult and he broke the law, it is just unfortunate enough that he killed his brother in the accident. When you break the law, you should be punished. He knew he had no license, he knew he should not be driving like this, but did he ever think of the things that could go wrong. He was being irrisponsible. My sister and brother were drinking together one night (long story short)and after a disagreement she ended up killing him. Yes, she is serving time in prison for this even though he was her brother. So tell me why should he not be punished. We felt like she had suffered enough and knowing that everyday she would know that she took her own brothers life from a stupid choice that they BOTH made that night. But she is learning a valueable lesson and she did not get slapped on the hand, so he should not either. At least she will realize that through the stupid choices she made that night she is paying for her crime. Like it said he had already been in trouble and he should have known better, but I guess he figured he was invinceable like alot of young adults these days. I pray for the fammily because I know what you are going through. You not only lost a son that day but may loose another one to prison. Just have faith in God and he will GET YOU THROUGH THIS.
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: Tuesday, July 15, 2008 3:58 PM
A life was lost and I can not believe that people would write such garbage on here. I'm sure the family is going through enough and God doesn't want us to judge. Since you have so much time to judge others, how about taking a look at your own life? Try working on it!!
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V
: Tuesday, July 15, 2008 3:39 PM
I'm in no means defending the irresponsible actions of this young man, but would prison be necessary? He'll have to live with the fact that in a moment of teenage stupidity he killed his own brother. I think living with that for the rest of his life is probably punishment enough. Another truly terrible lesson to be learned. My heart goes out to the family.
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: Tuesday, July 15, 2008 2:32 PM
I dont see where the parent's are to blame. These kids are young adults and did this on their own. I think the young man should be charged with whatever he can get. For one he was driving on a revoked license, 25mph over the posted speed limit. A slap on the hand will not do anything but let him know he can screw up and get by with it. His license are revoked for something so im sure he got a slap on the hand then and didnt learn. I really hope other young adults see how being stupid can change your life forever and stop with the "it wont happen to me"
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I was stupid once, too.
Kids : Tuesday, July 15, 2008 2:01 PM
When I was 16 and wanted to get out of the house without my parents knowing, it was pretty easy. Parents aren't responsible for this kids behavior, the KID is responsible...or should I say, he was the irresponsible one. "Stupid is is stupid does."...and Stupid hurts and kills.
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parent
16yr driver : Tuesday, July 15, 2008 1:52 PM
people need to have facts, if you are a parent and you come home from a hard days work and fall asleep you don't expect your child will take your vehicle or leave the house, but this happen all over the world as i was told by the police myself. so i suggest get facts before you judge.
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Judge Not Lest Ye Be Judged : Tuesday, July 15, 2008 1:25 PM
So I suppose you were perfect parents??... Don't you think these parents are going through enough right now? They do not need ignorant people judging them. What they need is our prayers.
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I agree; the Parents are the ones at fault! : Tuesday, July 15, 2008 1:06 PM
Why should a 16 yr old and a 17 yr old be out at 3 in the morning. Parents these days need to learn how to be parents instead of friends to their children!
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who is really at fault here? : Tuesday, July 15, 2008 11:50 AM
where were the parents of these CHILDREN at 3 am? what charges are the parents facing?
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Love of history: Teacher's ability to reach students leads to honor
