An 8-year-old girl riding her bicycle to a sleepover was killed in a tragic crash in a North Carolina neighborhood, with authorities alleging a speeding driver was responsible for the fatal collision.
Police say 23-year-old Khaliyal Burney has been charged with misdemeanor death by motor vehicle following the death of Nyomi Summers. The incident, which took place in a residential area of north Charlotte, has sparked renewed concerns about traffic safety in neighborhoods where children frequently play.
Investigators allege Burney was driving about 35 mph in a 25 mph zone at the time of the crash, a violation they say directly led to the child’s death. Court records also show he faces additional charges, including driving with a revoked license, lack of liability insurance, failure to register the vehicle, and using fictitious registration.
Nyomi had been visiting a friend and was heading to a nearby home for a sleepover on Saturday evening when she was struck while riding her bicycle in the roadway. Emergency responders transported her to a nearby hospital, but she later died from her injuries.
Authorities arriving at the scene found the young girl lying in the street alongside her damaged bicycle. Surveillance footage from a nearby residence reportedly captured the moments leading up to the crash, allegedly showing the vehicle revving its engine before accelerating shortly before impact.
Witness accounts paint a disturbing picture of the collision and its aftermath.
“And I heard it when he hit her,” a neighbor said. “I heard the bump of a body. He just went down the street … he didn’t even put on no brakes.”
Several residents emphasized that the neighborhood is typically filled with children and that drivers are expected to proceed cautiously.
“The way this neighborhood is, the way the streets are made, you shouldn’t be driving all fast like that down here,” another neighbor explained.
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Mae Lynn, who lives nearby, said she heard both the impact and the vehicle leaving the scene.
“I heard him when he took off,” she said. “I heard him when he hit her body. I heard him when he went down, yielded and kept on going. Then, they were out here calling him and telling him he had hit a baby in the street.”
Lynn also alleged that speeding had been an ongoing issue involving the same driver.
“Someone hollers at him every day to slow down, because he comes through here like that all the time,” she said.
Another witness described how other children narrowly avoided being struck.
“The other two kids got out the street. Nyomi wasn’t quick enough with her little legs,” the witness said. “She had eyes on her. She wasn’t unattended. She did not run in front of no car. That car hit her like she was an animal. It kept going until he probably got a phone call saying he hit that baby.”
Authorities confirmed that Burney later returned to the scene. Investigators also noted that he was not impaired at the time of the crash.
In the days following the incident, a growing memorial has appeared near the crash site, where neighbors have gathered to honor Nyomi’s life. Residents described her as a familiar and joyful presence in the community.
“She didn’t have to lose her life because of a reckless driver,” one neighbor said. “That could have been anybody.”
Burney was released after posting a $1,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in court on June 5.
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