Speeding driver who killed Dixie Chicks founding member Laura Lynch in crash sentenced to 15 years in prison
The speeding Texas driver who killed the Dixie Chicks founding member Laura Lynch has been sentenced to 15 years in prison after he made a plea deal with prosecutors over the deadly 2023 crash.
Domenick Chavez, 33, pleaded guilty to manslaughter and was handed the reduced jail stint after he admitted to recklessly driving over 100 mph when he struck Lynch, 65, in the head-on smash just days before Christmas, according to KFOX.
Chavez, who was driving despite having a suspended license because of two previous DWI convictions, attempted to swerve around four cars on the highway just before 6 p.m. in Hudspeth County, Texas.
The reckless driver was going between 106 and 114 mph when he collided head-on with Lynch’s Ford F-150, near Cornudas between El Paso and Dell City.
Chavez’s truck burst into flames because of the collision, and he was hospitalized with “non-life-threatening” injuries.
Investigators ruled Chavez was not under the influence of alcohol or drugs but determined he had been speeding at the time of the crash.
Lynch had family roots in the area and divided her time between Fort Worth and Dell City, where she maintained rental properties and advocated for her hometown, the El Paso Times reported.
“The death of Ms. Lynch caused profound sadness for her family, the Dell City community, and all those who appreciated her music. It is a loss made more acute by the fact that it happened just days before Christmas,” said James Montoya, the El Paso district attorney, according to the outlet.
“Our office will continue to hold accountable those defendants who choose to drive in an extremely dangerous manner.”
Grisly photos in the aftermath of the crash captured the mangled, charred wreckage of the two cars on the roadside.
Lynch co-founded the Dixie Chicks alongside Robin Lynn Macy and sisters Martie Maguire and Emily Strayer back in 1990.
She recorded three albums with the group before leaving in 1993.
The band — now known as the Chicks and consisting of Maguire, Strayer and singer Natalie Maines — announced they would be joining country music star Tim McGraw during three of his tour stops this summer in Pennsylvania, Boston and Minneapolis.
After Lynch’s death, the band paid tribute to their former bandmate, remembering her for her “undeniable talents.”
“We hold a special place in our hearts for the time we spent playing music, laughing and traveling together. Laura was a bright light … her infectious energy and humor gave a spark to the early days of our band. Laura had a gift for design, a love of all things Texas and was instrumental in the early success of the band. Her undeniable talents helped propel us beyond busking on street corners to stages all across Texas and the mid-West,” the Chicks said.
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