Speeding driver who killed Dixie Chicks founding member Laura Lynch in crash sentenced to 15 years in prison — laura lynch was 65
laura lynch, the original singer and co-founder of the band now known as the Chicks, died on Dec. 22, 2023, when her truck was struck head-on. The driver, Domenick Chavez, 33, has pleaded guilty to manslaughter and will spend 15 years in prison.
Laura Lynch’s death and sentencing
The crash occurred just days before Christmas. Lynch, 65, was killed on the scene when her Ford F-150 was struck head-on by a truck driven by Domenick Chavez. Chavez, 33, pleaded guilty in a plea agreement in a Texas court; a statement from the 34th Judicial District Attorney’s Office said he will spend 15 years in prison for manslaughter.
The crash and timeline
Investigators placed the collision on Dec. 22, 2023, on a two-lane highway in Hudspeth County, Texas, near Cornudas between El Paso and Dell City. Chavez attempted to pass four vehicles and tried to swerve around those cars just before 6 p. m. He was said to be going between 106 and 114 mph as he attempted the maneuver; other accounts note he admitted to recklessly driving over 100 mph when he struck Lynch.
Driver's plea and legal facts
Chavez, 33, pleaded guilty to manslaughter in a plea agreement. He was driving with a suspended license after two prior DWI convictions. Investigators ruled Chavez was not under the influence of alcohol or drugs at the time of the crash, and he was not determined to be driving drunk that night, but they concluded he had been speeding. Chavez escaped his truck with non-life-threatening injuries as it erupted in flames and was hospitalized; Lynch was trapped in her vehicle and died on the scene, described in some accounts as killed instantly.
Band history and recordings
Bass player Laura Lynch founded the Dixie Chicks with Robin Lynn Macy and sisters Martie Maguire and Emily Strayer (née Erwin). One account in the record places that founding in 1989; elsewhere the group is described as being co-founded by Lynch alongside Macy, Maguire and Strayer back in 1990. Lynch and Macy shared lead vocal duties until Macy’s departure in 1993, at which point Lynch became the sole frontwoman as the trio rose in popularity as a regional favorite in Texas. The group’s pre-Maines incarnation focused on bluegrass, retro-country and a cowgirl image.
The Dixie Chicks recorded three independent albums with Lynch on lead vocals before she left the group: "Thank Heavens for Dale Evans", "Little Ol’ Cowgirl" and "Shouldn’t a Told You That". Lynch was replaced by Natalie Maines in 2005.
Statements and reactions
El Paso District Attorney James Montoya said: "The death of Ms. Lynch caused profound sadness for her family, the Dell City community, and all those who appreciated her music. It is a loss made more acute by the fact that it happened just days before Christmas. Our office will continue to hold accountable those defendants who choose to drive in an extremely dangerous manner. "
Chicks members Natalie Maines, Emily Strayer and Martie Maguire issued a joint statement on Lynch’s death after the 2023 crash: "We are shocked and saddened to learn of the passing of Laura Lynch, a founding member of the Chicks. We hold a special place in our hearts for the time we spent playing music, laughing and traveling together. Laura was a bright light… her infectious energy and humor gave a spark to the early days of our band. Laura had a gift for design, a love of all things Texas and was instrumental in the early success of the band. Her undeniable talents helped propel us beyond busking on street corners to stages all across Texas and the mid-West. "
Personal life and later years
After she left the band, Lynch reconnected with her high school sweetheart and future husband, rancher Mac Tull. The context notes he had reportedly recently won $26. 8 million in a lottery, and Lynch and Tull wed in 1997. Lynch divided her time between Fort Worth and Dell City, where she maintained rental properties and advocated for her hometown.
In a 1995 interview with the society columnist of the Dallas Morning News, Lynch made it clear that the exit had not been her idea.
The band — now known as the Chicks and consisting of Martie Maguire, Emily Strayer and Natalie Maines — has continued performing; one note in the record states the group announced they would be joining Tim McGraw during three of his tour stops this summer in Pennsylvania, Boston and Minneapolis.
Local outlets carried news of the sentencing and the plea; a statement from the 34th Judicial District Attorney’s Office confirmed the 15-year term for Chavez.
laura lynch’s death, the legal outcome for Domenick Chavez and the statements from officials and former bandmates close the chapter on a crash that occurred on Dec. 22, 2023, and reverberated through Lynch’s family, the Dell City community and the wider music world.
