GREENE COUNTY, N.C. — Authorities have arrested 31-year-old Keontae Tysheen Hines of Hookerton, North Carolina, after a fatal crash that claimed the life of 27-year-old Makaylah Brielle Dixon of Snow Hill. The Greene County Sheriff’s Office confirmed Thursday that Hines faces multiple felony charges, including second-degree murder, felony obstructing justice, felony hit and run resulting in serious injury or death, reckless driving with wanton disregard, driving while license revoked (DWLR) due to impaired revocation, and driving left of center.
According to court documents and arrest warrants, the deadly collision occurred around 7:18 a.m. on Sunday, October 12, 2025, on Fort Run Road near Peanut Road in Greene County. Investigators say Hines was driving a black 2019 GMC Yukon Denali traveling along SR 1058 when the vehicle ran off the road to the right, overcorrected, and flipped several times after striking a ditch.
Tragically, Makaylah Brielle Dixon, who was seated in the backseat, was ejected from the vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities revealed that the violent force of the crash threw Dixon’s body approximately six feet into a tree, where she was later discovered by first responders.
The second-degree murder warrant alleges that Hines was driving under the influence of an impairing substance at the time of the crash, despite having his license revoked for a prior impaired offense. The warrant further states that Hines acted “with malice” and showed a willful disregard for human life, directly resulting in Dixon’s death.
After the crash, investigators say Hines fled the scene and failed to report the accident to law enforcement. Authorities later discovered that he had lied to officers about his involvement, allegedly attempting “to defraud a fatal crash investigation” by concealing his role as the driver.
The misdemeanor reckless driving charge accuses Hines of operating the Yukon “carelessly and heedlessly in willful and wanton disregard of the rights and safety of others,” compounding the severity of his actions.
Hines was arrested Thursday, October 16, and booked into the Greene County Detention Center, where he is currently being held without bond. His first court appearance is scheduled for October 24, 2025, at 9:30 a.m. in Greene County District Court.
Friends and loved ones of Makaylah Dixon are mourning her devastating loss. Described as a loving, free-spirited young woman with a bright future, Dixon’s death has left the Snow Hill community heartbroken. Tributes have flooded social media, with many calling for justice and accountability for the life taken far too soon.
The Greene County Sheriff’s Office, along with the North Carolina State Highway Patrol, continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding the crash. Officials have not released additional details about Hines’ prior convictions or the exact substance suspected in the crash, but more information is expected as the case proceeds.
As the community grieves, one message remains clear: Makaylah Brielle Dixon will not be forgotten, and her family continues to seek justice for the senseless tragedy that claimed her life.
