Loved ones of Amanda Green and Daughter Arabella Urge Lawmakers to Strengthen NC Fatal Crash Penalties
By Coastal Carolina News Staff Writer
A North Carolina family is calling for stronger penalties in fatal crash cases after losing Amanda Green, 29, and her daughter Arabella “Bella,” 11, in a wreck that has become the emotional center of a growing statewide push to reform the state’s death‑by‑vehicle statute. Their relatives say the current law, N.C. General Statute § 20‑141.4, leaves too many fatal crashes classified as misdemeanors when impairment is not involved, even in cases of extreme speeding or reckless driving.
The movement, now referred to as Arabella’s Law, did not create a new statute but instead seeks to strengthen the one already in place.
Families advocating for the change say the existing framework fails to reflect the seriousness of fatal crashes caused by gross negligence. Under current law, if a driver is sober, a deadly collision frequently results in misdemeanor death by motor vehicle, a charge that can lead to probation rather than prison time. Supporters of Arabella’s Law argue that this gap leaves families without meaningful accountability when loved ones are killed.
Green and her daughter were remembered as a close pair whose lives were cut short in a crash relatives describe as preventable. Their family says the aftermath revealed how limited the state’s options are when prosecutors cannot pursue felony charges without evidence of impairment. They believe the law should allow felony‑level consequences when a driver’s conduct shows clear disregard for safety, including excessive speed, repeated violations, or other forms of gross negligence.
Advocates across North Carolina have joined the effort, urging lawmakers to modernize § 20‑141.4 to reflect today’s roadway realities.
They say the statute was written for a different era and does not adequately address fatal crashes involving high speeds, distracted driving, or drivers with prior violations. Families pushing for reform hope legislators will consider updates that elevate certain non‑DWI fatal crashes to felony status, ensuring penalties better match the severity of the loss.
For this local family, the push is both personal and forward‑looking. They say Arabella’s Law would prevent other families from experiencing the same outcome and to close what they view as a longstanding gap in North Carolina’s vehicle‑related homicide laws.
Their message to lawmakers is direct: when reckless behavior takes a life, the consequences should reflect the gravity of that act.
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