Woman killed in hit-and-run identified

The mother of a woman killed in a hit-and-run this week is grieving her daughter's death.

Nicole Deichmeister Rhinehart, 21, died after being struck by a vehicle at 2:30 a.m. Thursday as she attempted to flag down traffic on U.S. 17, according to the N.C. Highway Patrol.

"She was a very bubbly person, happy. She loved life, she loved her family," Rhinehart's mother Terri Kopecki said between sobs during a phone interview from her home in Bethel, Pa., Friday morning. "I talked to her every day; she talked to her sisters every day."

Rhinehart has lived in Jacksonville for about three years with her husband, Patrick Rhinehart, Kopecki said.

Kopecki was still struggling Friday with the news of her daughter's death.

"It was terrible. You're not supposed to bury your children. I didn't believe it because I talked to her the day before. She called to say ‘I love you,' and then she said she'd call me back. She called her sister on Monday for her birthday," she said.

Kopecki said that she loved her daughter and her son-in-law.

"He's a wonderful guy. He's really nice, he's kind of shy but he was really good to her," she said, explaining that the couple met in Florida then moved to Ohio. When he joined the Marine Corps, they moved to Jacksonville.

"I miss my daughter, I loved her to death. Her sisters are going to miss her very dearly," Kopecki said.

A Supply man has been charged in connection with Nicole Rhinehart's death.

Cary Levon Lee Jr., 24, was charged with second degree murder, felony death by a motor vehicle, felony hit-and-run, reckless driving to endanger, driving while intoxicated and driving with a revoked license, according to warrants.

Rhinehart was driving on U.S. 17, near the old U.S. 17 by Verona when she struck a pole in the median, Sgt. M.L. Collier with the N.C. Highway Patrol said Thursday. She then got out of her vehicle, stood in U.S. 17 and attempted to flag down traffic.

One vehicle stopped and she continued to try to flag down traffic, according to Collier. She was then struck by Lee's vehicle, which continued south on U.S. 17, according to Collier.

Lee was stopped by the Onslow County Sheriff's Department shortly after the collision, Collier said.

"After the stop, the collision damage was noted and the damage on the vehicle was consistent with the collision that had taken place with the fatality," Collier said.

Lee's bond was set at $202,500.

Contact Jacksonville/Onslow County reporter Amanda Hickey at ahickey@freedomenc.com or 910-219-8463. Visit www.jdnews.com to comment on this report.