Hickory Woman Demands Change After Daughter, Grandson Killed In Crash Involving Police SUV

HICKORY, N.C. – A Hickory woman is calling for change after the death of her daughter and 12-year-old grandson.

The two died after a police SUV slammed into their minivan, while the officer was in pursuit of a motorcycle.

“It was senseless. It was senseless,” says Hickory resident Beth Fox.

Fox is mourning her daughter and grandson.

“Taking it minute by minute. Trying, just trying to realize if this is real or not,” Fox says.

38-year-old Cynthia Fox and her 12-year-old son Michael Lail died after their Honda Odyssey was hit by a police SUV, just before 11 on Friday night.

Investigators say Officer Atia Mohamed Shamseldin was in pursuit of a motorcycle on Highway 70 Southwest when he came to the intersection with 13th Street Southwest, with blue lights and sirens on.

That’s where Fox and her son were crossing at a green light, when the officer’s Ford Explorer slammed into them.

“They were Doordashing and out of nowhere they got hit,” Fox says.

Cynthia died at the scene, her son died on Sunday.

Beth believes the officer should not have been pursuing the motorcycle, which police say was driving recklessly and did not have a tag.

“That’s a ticket that’s gonna get thrown out when it gets to court. Which meant my daughter and my grandson died senselessly. For nothing. For nothing,” Fox says.

She calls Cynthia a ray of sunshine.

“She loved music, she loved to dance,” Fox says.

And she calls Michael a beautiful child.

“Michael was full of life, he was the most mischievous little boy you’ll ever meet,” she says.

Now she says she’ll push for a change in pursuit polices as she remembers the two she’s lost.

“Just trying to realize if this is real or not and trying really hard not to be angry,” she says.

We’re told Cynthia was a single mom who leaves behind two other children.

The officer is on paid administrative leave, as the city works to determine if he followed the department’s pursuit policy.

The motorcycle he was chasing got away.

A GoFundMe page has been set up to help with funeral costs.