Hickory Woman Gets Prison Time For Crash That Killed Taylorsville Man

31-year-old Stephanie Leighann Harris of Hickory, was sentenced to serve six to eight years in prison following her conviction for aggravated felony death by vehicle, driving while impaired and driving while license revoked (impaired revocation) during Catawba County Superior Court on Tuesday (May 6).

The Honorable Karen Eady-Williams, Superior Court Judge from Mecklenburg County, imposed terms of the active sentence after Harris entered the guilty plea in connection with the traffic death of 19-year-old Coble Hartman, of Taylorsville.

Hartman was riding a motorcycle along U.S. Highway 70 in Hickory on April 13, 2024, when Harris made a left turn into his path at 11:37 p.m. The victim was taken to Catawba Valley Medical Center where he died as a result of injuries suffered in the collision.

During field sobriety testing, Harris blew a .16 on the intoxilyzer. She also had a prior DWI conviction from Burke County in February 2019. The victim’s father and mother addressed the court and defendant.

Jeff Hartman noted that he chose to love and forgive because that was what his son would have wanted, saying, “He was the best of us.”

Carol Hartman said she wanted Harris to come away from the tragedy as “kinder, softer and lighter,” adding that her son would be the first to tell the defendant that things would be OK.

Amanda Efird was the lead investigator for Hickory Police Department. Assistant District Attorney Melanie Earles prosecuted the matter for the State with aid from Legal Assistant Jordan Arney.

Story: Rob Eastwood-WHKY