Pedestrian in Critical Condition After Struck by Vehicle

Asheville -- Press Release Asheville Police Department:  Patrol Officers are investigating a single motor vehicle collision in west Asheville early

 this morning that critically injured a pedestrian.

APD Patrol Officers responded to the scene of a motor vehicle collision with injuries in the 600 block of Haywood Road around 1:06 a.m. on March 4th. The preliminary investigation indicates a 2015 Nissan Pathfinder, operated by Max Clayton Howard Mackin (05/10/1990), was traveling east on Haywood Road at a high rate of speed when it left the roadway, colliding with a power pole. The vehicle continued traveling and struck a pedestrian on the sidewalk. As it continued to travel, the vehicle drove through another power pole before swerving to the left, going off the road, taking out a bike rack and crashing into the bus stop in front of Ingles. The pedestrian sustained significant injuries and was transported to Mission Hospital where they remain in critical condition. 

Due to the significant damage to the power poles, traffic lights in Haywood Road are currently inoperable. Duke Energy is actively working to restore power. Traffic is currently flowing without delay. ART Transit is operating as usual at the stop.

The driver of the vehicle, Mackin, was found to be impaired at the scene and was taken into custody without incident and charged with the following: 

-Driving While Impaired

-Felony Possession of Schedule II

-Felony Possession of Controlled Substance in Secured Facility

-Failure to Maintain Lane

-Failure to Wear a Seatbelt

Mackin was booked into the Buncombe County Detention Facility under NO BOND (ineligible for release) by a magistrate due to the Pretrial Integrity Act.

The investigation into this collision continues, and additional charges are expected after further investigation. If you have any information regarding this incident, please contact APD at (828) 252-1110. You can also send an anonymous tip by using the TIP2APD smartphone application (search “Asheville PD” in your app store) or by texting TIP2APD to 847411.