Gastonia, N.C. - March 9, 2022: Gastonia Police Department officers have charged Onkevious D. Thomas, age 29, of Gastonia, with DWI and second-degree murder after a February 28 single-vehicle collision. Thomas’ passenger later died from injuries received in that collision.
At approximately 2 a.m. on February 28, Gastonia Police Department officers and fire and rescue personnel responded to the intersection of S. Clay Street and W. Third Avenue for the report of a 2015 Honda Accord that struck a telephone pole and then struck a tree.
The driver of the Honda, identified as Thomas, was transported to a local hospital for treatment of minor injuries. Officers further determined that Thomas was driving while intoxicated and charged him that night with several traffic offenses including DWI.
While officers were investigating the collision, they were notified that an adult male passenger in the Honda walked away from the collision prior to police and fire and rescue arrival. A GPD K-9 officer attempted a track to locate the passenger but was unable to find him.
Several hours later, officers were notified that a 31-year-old man had been transported by ambulance from a residence in Gastonia to a local hospital after the male experienced a medical event at home. The man, now identified as Travis DeQuan Sharpe of Gastonia, died in the ambulance while on the way to the hospital.
Gastonia Police Department Traffic Division detectives later determined that Sharpe was the passenger who walked away from the Honda after the collision. Sharpe’s injuries and cause of death were determined to have been related to injuries he received in the collision. Thomas was subsequently charged with second-degree murder after Sharpe's death.
Onkevious D. Thomas
