HENRY COUNTY, Va. – The communities of Henry County, Virginia, and Reidsville, North Carolina, are wrapped in a collective state of grief and disbelief following a horrific, multi-vehicle crash that claimed the lives of 11-year-old Keontae Hilderbrand and 45-year-old Misty Holland. The tragedy, which occurred earlier this week, was caused by a driver who authorities say was operating a vehicle under the influence of drugs.

The suspect, identified as 60-year-old Charles Boulding of Eden, North Carolina, is facing DUI charges as he recovers from his own injuries in the hospital. The investigation is ongoing, and more serious charges are expected to follow.

Keontae, a bright and beloved sixth-grader at Reidsville Middle School, was on his way to or from a local festival—an annual tradition he cherished—when his life was cut tragically short. His family is now left to navigate an unimaginable nightmare, grappling with a senseless loss while pleading with the public to understand the devastating consequences of impaired driving.

“It should have been his choice to stay home. If he [Boulding] wasn’t on the road, my grandson would’ve been with us today,” Keontae’s heartbroken grandmother, Pamela Neal, said. “He took that choice away from us.”

A Young Life Full of Promise: Remembering Keontae Hilderbrand

At 11 years old, Keontae Hilderbrand was standing at the threshold of a new chapter in his life. He had just started the sixth grade at Reidsville Middle School, a time of new friendships, new challenges, and burgeoning independence. He is being remembered by his family, teachers, and peers as a bright student and, even at his young age, a natural leader in his community.

He was the kind of child who lit up a room, a boy known for his energy and his kind heart. His death has left a gaping hole in the halls of his school and in the neighborhood where he was a familiar, happy presence.

The tragic irony of his death is made even more poignant by where he was going or coming from that day. He was traveling to or from the River Fest in Eden, a local celebration he had attended with his family every year since he was just six years old. It was a day that should have been filled with joy, laughter, and community spirit. Instead, it became the backdrop for an unthinkable tragedy, a cherished tradition forever marred by a devastating and preventable crash.

To honor the memory of a boy whose life was so full of promise, the Hilderbrand family is inviting the community to a balloon release. The event will be held at Reidsville Middle School on Saturday at 2:00 p.m. It will be a moment for his friends, classmates, teachers, and the entire community to come together to grieve, to share memories, and to celebrate the bright but brief life of a young boy gone far too soon.

A Second Victim: The Loss of Misty Holland

The crash claimed another precious life, that of 45-year-old Misty Holland. A devoted mother of three, her death has shattered another family and sent another wave of grief through the community. While fewer details have been made public about her, her loss is no less profound.

Her children are now without their mother, and her family is left to mourn a woman taken from them by the same reckless act. The tragedy serves as a stark reminder that the consequences of a single driver’s decision can create a devastating ripple effect, destroying multiple families and communities in an instant.

The Crash and The Suspect

The fatal collision occurred in Henry County, Virginia. According to the Virginia State Police, the crash happened when a vehicle driven by 60-year-old Charles Boulding crossed the center line and slammed into a 2009 Nissan Quest. Both Keontae Hilderbrand and Misty Holland were occupants of the Nissan.

The force of the impact was catastrophic. Two other individuals in the Nissan were also injured and were transported to the hospital for treatment.

Investigators at the scene quickly determined that Boulding was impaired. The Virginia State Police have stated that he was operating his vehicle under the influence of drugs. Boulding, a resident of Eden, North Carolina, was also injured in the crash and was hospitalized.

He is currently facing preliminary charges of Driving Under the Influence (DUI). However, this is only the beginning of the legal process. As the investigation continues and the full scope of the tragedy is presented to the Commonwealth’s Attorney, those charges are expected to be significantly upgraded. In cases involving fatalities caused by an impaired driver, charges in Virginia can be elevated to aggravated involuntary manslaughter or even felony homicide, which carry substantial prison sentences. The investigation remains active and ongoing as state police reconstruct the crash scene and await the results of Boulding’s toxicology report.

A Family’s Plea: “Think About the Life You Can Take”

In the midst of their unimaginable grief, Keontae Hilderbrand’s family is channeling their pain into a powerful message to the public. They are speaking out in the hope that their son’s story might prevent another family from enduring the same nightmare.

His father, Timothy Hilderbrand, made a direct and emotional plea to anyone who might consider driving while impaired.

“Think about the life you can take from someone who loves them,” he urged. His words are a raw and heartbreaking reminder of the human cost of a crime that is 100 percent preventable. He spoke not of statistics or laws, but of love and loss—of the irreplaceable life of his son and the void that has been left in his family.

Keontae’s grandmother, Pamela Neal, expressed the deep frustration and anger that is mixed with her grief. Her statement that her grandson would still be alive if Boulding had simply made the choice not to get behind the wheel is a sentiment that resonates deeply with all victims of impaired driving crashes. It is a tragedy born not of fate, but of a single, reckless, and selfish decision.

A Community Gathers to Grieve

The communities of Reidsville and Eden, North Carolina, and Henry County, Virginia—all connected by this tragedy—are now coming together to support the grieving families. The balloon release planned for Saturday is more than just a memorial; it is an act of community solidarity, a way to show the Hilderbrand family that they are not alone in their sorrow.

The incident is a painful reminder that the consequences of impaired driving know no state lines. A driver from North Carolina has brought devastation to a family in Virginia, uniting both communities in a shared sense of loss and outrage. As the legal case against Charles Boulding proceeds, two families must now plan funerals, and two other victims must recover from their injuries, all because of a choice that should never have been made.