Troopers: Driver Identified In Deadly Hit-And-Run

The North Carolina Highway Patrol said they believe they know who was behind the wheel of a vehicle involved in a deadly hit and run on July 27 in Catawba County.

Troopers said 23-year-old Tiffany Vasselo was driving a Nissan Xterra that struck and killed Reynardo Miranda Funez, 27, of Lenoir.

Funez's family had just dropped him off along the highway around 4 a.m. to be picked up for work. His pregnant wife and 4-year-old daughter witnessed the crash.

When a co-worker's van stopped to pick up Funez, 27, near the exit ramp for Highway 127 south of Hickory, another vehicle came up and hit the van and Funez. Funez was thrown 100 feet and died at the scene.

The driver of the van then went after the suspect vehicle but was not able to catch up to it.

Vasselo is charged with felony hit-and-run, misdemeanor death by vehicle and a lane control violation. She was given a $10,000 unsecured bond.

Troopers said they were contacted by her attorney at 2:30 p.m. the day of the accident, telling them that she was responsible.