Gastonia Man Admits Impairment Led To Deadly Crash

A man charged with murder in the death of his fiancée said he’s very sorry he drank and smoked marijuana before getting behind the wheel of his car.

“If you out here drinking and smoking and going out, it ain't worth it, man! It ain't worth it,” said Marcus Wakefield before his first court appearance Wednesday.

Police said Wakefield, 31, was driving on Garrison Boulevard in Gastonia early Sunday morning when he lost control of his 1995 Cadillac and ran off the road. The car flipped into the swelling Catawba Creek near Vance Street.

Wakefield was able to escape the vehicle, but his fiancée, 26-year-old Johnetta McLean, was trapped inside.

“I did everything I could do. I did everything I could possibly do,” Wakefield said.

He finally gave up and flagged down a police officer for help.

Police said officers got on top of the car and swung at the windows with clubs, but because there was so much water they couldn't get any force behind the swing. It took firefighters with a sledge hammer to break the glass, but by that time it was too late.

McLean died at a local hospital.

Wakefield was initially charged with driving while impaired. On Tuesday, police also charged him with second-degree murder.

"The charge is based on contributing factors to the accident and follows the review of the case with the (district attorney)," said Sgt. Jimmy Arndt of the Gastonia Police Department.

Wakefield told Eyewitness News on Wednesday that he deeply regrets the crash. He said because he was impaired, he lost the mother of his children and future wife.

“Two beers and a mixed drink got me in the situation I'm in right now, and a blunt . . . a blunt,” he said.

Wakefield is the father of two of McLean’s three small children, who were at home while the two went to a concert and spent a night on the town. He said they’d had the time of their lives.

McLean’s mother said Wakefield has apologized to her.

“He cried. He hugged me. He told me was so sorry. He wishes he could have done more,” said Johnsie McClean.

She said when she accepted his apology, she knew he had a driving while impaired charge in August, but she said she still doesn’t think he should be charged with second-degree murder.

Police said it wasn't just the drugs and alcohol that led to the crash. They said Wakefield also admitted to driving on bald tires in the rain.

“It's been a bad situation all the way around,” Arndt said.

Wakefield could be sentenced to 10 to 15 years in prison if convicted on the second-degree murder charge.