Driver accused of hitting, killing woman in uptown turns himself in

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A driver accused of hitting and killing a woman in uptown Charlotte earlier this month turned himself in to police on Monday.

The fatal collision happened on April 11 around 3:45 a.m. on South Tryon Street near Trade Street.

Police said 37-year-old Fran Kelly was visiting Charlotte and crossing the street with her boyfriend when an SUV drove through and struck her. The driver, 34-year-old Cornell Watts, then left the scene.

Officers said when they got there they found Kelly lying in the road with serious injuries. She was rushed to a hospital where she later died.

A few days after the crash, investigators said they found the SUV involved in the hit-and-run in College Park, Georgia. The College Park Police Department seized the vehicle and sent it to Charlotte to be processed.

Evidence found in the SUV led to Watts as a suspect.

Watts then turned himself in on Monday at the Mecklenburg County Jail. He has been charged with felony hit-and-run and reckless driving.

Channel 9′s Allison Latos questioned Watts as he turned himself in, but Watts was silent.

“Did Mr. Watts know he hit someone uptown?” Latos asked defense attorney Kenneth Snow.

“Allison, obviously I can’t tell you a whole lot about what’s going on between my client, but I can tell you he is cooperating with authorities,” Snow responded.

Snow wouldn’t reveal when his client learned of Kelly’s death, only that turning himself in was the “right thing to do.”

“Our hearts go out to that family that is suffering of what has occurred. Nobody wants to see anyone go through that,” Snow said.

Police said they spent 76 hours investigating before they connected Watts to the deadly crash.

No others details have been released at this point. Check back with wsoctv.com for updates.

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