A West End man is charged with aggravated felony death by vehicle and driving while impaired and remains in jail in Asheville, NC.

Griffin Alan Hartney, 22, was the driver in a deadly crash in Asheville that occurred August 12, according to Buncombe County Sheriff’s Department.

His passenger was critically injured and later succumbed. Kilby Greer Elkins, 28, of Candler, NC, died four days later at Mission Hospital.

The Asheville Police Department responded to the motor vehicle crash around 6:30 p.m. Hartney was traveling eastbound on Patton Avenue when they crossed over both westbound lanes, exited the roadway and overturned the vehicle.  Elkins was ejected from the car.

Hartney was charged with Driving While Intoxicated at the scene and taken to the Buncombe County Detention Center. He was later charged with Aggravated Felony Death by Motor Vehicle.

“The impaired driving offense was the proximate cause of the death,” an Asheville Police Department officer wrote in Hartney’s arrest warrant. 

Hartney initially appeared before a Buncombe County magistrate judge, who set Hartney’s unsecured bond at $80,000. He appeared  in court Monday morning, and his bail was reduced to $25,000 secured bond.

His next court date is set for September 26. As of this time, he remains in the Buncombe County Jail.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email