Driver remorseful after causing wreck that killed Lincoln Co. mother

LINCOLN COUNTY, N.C. — The family of the driver charged with hitting and killing a Lincoln County mother spoke to Channel 9 Wednesday about the tragic crash.

Kandace Helms was taking one of her young sons to school east of Lincolnton Tuesday when the minivan they were in was hit head-on by a pickup truck driven by David Boyd on Highway 150, authorities said.

Helms' two children were hospitalized and later released.

Brenda Boyd told Channel 9 her husband David was also seriously injured in the crash. He had left Tuesday morning to get the alignment fixed on the truck and blames the accident on a deer.

"He just keeps repeating over and over, ‘Do you know the other person died? Do you know the other person died? And there were children in the car. I never meant for that to happen,’" Brenda said.

Channel 9 spoke with two different drivers who witnessed the crash and they said the red pickup truck drifted slowly into the eastbound lanes but they don't recall seeing a deer.

Channel 9 learned Boyd has two previous DWI convictions but those cases date back to 1987 and 1990.

His wife said at the time he quit drinking. Investigators said they took his blood to have it tested.

Boyd was charged with misdemeanor death by motor vehicle and driving left of center.

Brenda said she and her husband are only thinking about the Helms family.

"He would never ever intentionally hurt anyone,” she said. “I am so sorry it happened and I know he is, too."

The Highway Patrol said it will forward the results of its investigation to the district attorney to let him decide about any additional charges in the case.

In the meantime, a fund has been set up for Helms' two sons who survived the crash:

The Peyton and Mason Helms Fund

First Federal Savings Bank

320 East Main Street, Lincolnton, N.C. 28092

Fund set up for boys of mom killed in crash-The Peyton & Mason Helms Fund First Federal Savings Bank in Lincolnton pic.twitter.com/Y5jMhfPwJv
— Dave Faherty (@FahertyWSOC9) March 10, 2016