Truck driver pleads guilty in wreck that killed a Thurmond couple

By: Sherry Youngquist | Winston-Salem Journal
Published: August 27, 2008

A Connecticut truck driver pleaded guilty today in Yadkin Superior Court to two counts of misdemeanor death by motor vehicle in connection with an accident in July 2007 in which a Thurmond couple was killed when their car was caught between two tractor-trailers.
Judge Edgar B. Gregory sentenced Muhid Kadric, 40, of New Britain, Conn. to 18 months probation and 1,000 hours of community service.
On July 26, 2007, Jonathan Matthew Hinson, 27, and his wife, Bayley Quinn Hinson, 26, were traveling north on Interstate 77 approaching Jonesville about 3:30 p.m. when traffic slowed because of construction, authorities said.
Jonathan Hinson, a youth minister, and Bayley Hinson, who was expecting the couple's first child, stopped behind a tractor-trailer. Then, a tractor-trailer driven by Kadric failed to stop and slammed into the Hinson's car.
The collision pushed the Hinsons' car under the tractor-trailer in front of it.
Kadric was initially charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter.
About a month ago, Kadric and his family and the relatives of the Hinsons had a meeting, said Tom Horner, the district attorney.
"They wanted to be able to hear some answers as to what had happened," Horner said. "Because of their Christian beliefs and their willingness to try to look at the whole situation … because of those beliefs, they tried to be forgiving. I think that was the turning point that caused them to be in agreement for the pleas."
Kadric is a refugee from Bosnia, said his attorney Chris Clifton, of Winston-Salem. He came with his family into the country more than seven years ago after fighting on the side of the United States. Some of his family members began working in the trucking business, but since the accident, Kadric has found other work.
"My client, he's been devastated by the accident, psychologically and emotionally," Clifton said.
Kadric has agreed to pay for the couple's funeral expenses.