Mother, son killed in crash involving Hickory police

HICKORY, N.C. (WBTV) - A mother and her son were killed after a minivan was struck during a pursuit in Hickory.

Officers with the Hickory Police Department say the pursuit started at 10:42 p.m. Friday after a motorcycle failed to stop for police on Highway 70 Southwest near Fourth Street Southwest. Police said the driver was seen driving carelessly and recklessly and without a license plate displayed.

While the pursuit was still underway, a minivan entered the intersection of Highway 70 Southwest and 13th Street Southwest and was hit by police.

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According to officers, there were two people inside; 38-year-old Cynthia Nicole Lail, who was pronounced dead at the scene, and her son, who was taken to a hospital for life-threatening injuries. He died Sunday at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Brenner Children’s Hospital, according to troopers with the North Carolina State Highway Patrol.

Troopers identified the child as Michael Lail, 12, of Hickory.

The officer driving the 2020 Hickory Police Department Ford Explorer, Atia Mohamed Shamseldin, 24, and the front-seat passenger, Matthew Lee Wendell, 21, were both taken to Catawba Valley Medical Center for treatment of minor injuries, according to the highway patrol. Troopers added that Wendell was a Hickory Police Department applicant.

Police say the motorcycle did not stop and fled the scene.

The North Carolina State Highway Patrol has taken over the investigation at the request of Hickory Police and the officer involved in the crash is on administrative leave while an administrative investigation is conducted.

Anyone with information regarding the identity of the driver of the motorcycle is asked to contact the North Carolina State Highway Patrol or the Hickory Police Department.

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