Kyle Alan Kubiak was 34 years old when he traveled to Charlotte for what should have been a routine business trip. He expected to finish up his work, pack his bags, and head back home to the people who loved him. Instead, a quiet Wednesday night on East Woodlawn Road turned into a nightmare that ended his life in an instant.
Just before 8:40 p.m. on September 2, Kyle was walking across East Woodlawn Road near Nations Crossing Drive. Out of nowhere, a black Honda hit him while he was in the roadway. The impact was severe, and officers pronounced him dead at the scene before medical crews could help.

The driver who hit Kyle did not slow down, tap his brakes, or stop to check on him. Instead, the car sped away down Woodlawn Road, leaving Kyle lying in the street as emergency callers dialed 911.
Back home, Kyle was known as an outgoing guy who brought energy to everyone around him. At 34, he loved simple routines, like playing golf with friends and catching up over weekend plans. People who knew him best said he always thought of others first and liked making people laugh.
For his family and friends, the sudden loss is almost impossible to grasp. They were waiting for updates on his trip and news on when he would fly home, only to get a devastating call from police officers in North Carolina. The everyday phone calls and funny text messages they shared are now memories they hold onto tightly.
Police did not have to search long for the man who hit Kyle. Minutes after the collision, 22-year-old Jared Rodriguez ran a red light further down the road and smashed into another car. An officer witnessed the second crash, tested Rodriguez for alcohol impairment, and arrested him on the spot.
Rodriguez is currently held in the Mecklenburg County jail on a $1.5 million bond. He faces charges of felony death by vehicle, felony hit and run, and reckless driving. As the legal process begins, Kyle’s loved ones are left seeking justice and trying to navigate life without him.








