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Driver Sentenced to 15 Years for Fatal Collision that Killed The Chicks’ Founding Member Laura Lynch
EL PASO, TX – A man has received a 15-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to manslaughter in a devastating head-on collision that claimed the life of Laura Lynch, a founding member of the acclaimed country music group, The Chicks.
Domenick Chavez, 33, entered a plea agreement, admitting to reckless driving that caused the fatal crash on December 22, 2023. The El Paso District Attorney’s Office announced the sentencing on Tuesday, February 24.
Lynch, 65, was pronounced dead at the scene after Chavez, in an attempt to pass four vehicles on an undivided highway in Hudspeth County, collided with her truck. The incident occurred approximately 50 miles east of El Paso.
El Paso District Attorney James Montoya expressed profound sadness regarding the loss. “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,” Montoya stated.
“Our office will continue to hold accountable those defendants who choose to drive in an extremely dangerous manner.”
Authorities reported that Lynch was driving a 2016 Ford F-150 eastbound when she was struck by Chavez’s 2022 Dodge Ram 1500. The crash, which happened around 5:45 p.m. on a cloudy day with dry road conditions, resulted in the other truck catching fire and Chavez sustaining injuries requiring hospitalization.
Accident reconstruction investigators determined that Chavez was driving at speeds between 106 and 114 mph at the time of the wreck, despite alcohol not being a factor. Furthermore, Chavez was operating the vehicle with a suspended license, which had been revoked due to his failure to comply with DWI-related penalties stemming from convictions in 2014 and 2017 in El Paso County.
Manuel Parra, Chavez’s attorney, indicated that his client “has expressed profound remorse for the loss of life and for the pain this has caused, and he accepted responsibility by pleading guilty.” Parra noted that Chavez opted for the plea agreement to avoid a potential sentence of five to 99 years in prison at trial.
Laura Lynch: A Legacy in Country Music
Laura Lynch, an alumna of Coronado High School in El Paso, was a passionate advocate for her hometown of Dell City, a small community in Hudspeth County. She split her time between Fort Worth and Dell City, where she actively managed rental properties and championing local causes.
Lynch was one of the four original members of the Dixie Chicks, formed in 1989 alongside sisters Martie Maguire and Emily Strayer (then Erwin), and Robin Lynn Macy. Lynch played the upright bass and later took on the role of lead singer. During her tenure, the band released three albums: “Thank Heavens for Dale Evans” (1990), “Little Ol’ Cowgirl” (1992), and “Shouldn’t a Told You That” (1993).
She departed from the Dixie Chicks in 1995, before the band’s shift from bluegrass to mainstream country and before Natalie Maines replaced her as lead singer. Lynch’s departure also predated the band’s well-publicized criticism of then-President George W. Bush in 2003, which led to significant backlash and country radio boycotts.
In 2020, in response to the killing of George Floyd and the subsequent racial reckoning, the band officially changed its name to The Chicks, removing “Dixie” due to its association with the Confederate-era South.
Following news of Lynch’s passing, The Chicks honored her on social media, describing her as a “bright light” and “instrumental” in the band’s early success. “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,” the band’s statement read. “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.”