Driver Sentenced to 15 Years in Death of Original Dixie Chicks Singer Laura Lynch
The Texas man responsible for the 2023 car crash that killed Laura Lynch, a founding member of the country group later known as the Chicks, has been sentenced to 15 years in prison.
Domenick Chavez, 33, accepted a plea agreement with prosecutors in El Paso County in connection with the Dec. 23, 2023, collision that claimed Lynch’s life. According to court records and statements from local authorities, Chavez was driving on a suspended license at the time of the crash. His license had previously been revoked due to two DUI convictions.
The fatal accident occurred on a two-lane, undivided highway near El Paso, Texas. Investigators determined that Chavez attempted to pass four vehicles at high speed when he collided head-on with Lynch’s 2016 Ford F-150 pickup truck. Although toxicology reports indicated that Chavez had not been drinking, authorities said his vehicle was traveling between 106 and 114 miles per hour at the time of impact.
The collision caused Lynch’s truck to catch fire. She died from her injuries at the scene. She was 65.
El Paso District Attorney James Montoya said in a statement that the sentencing reflects the severity of Chavez’s conduct. “The death of Ms. Lynch caused profound sadness for her family, the Dell City community, and all those who appreciated her music,” Montoya said. He noted that the crash occurred just days before Christmas, intensifying the grief surrounding her death. “Our office will continue to hold accountable those defendants who choose to drive in an extremely dangerous manner.”
Laura Lynch co-founded the Dixie Chicks in 1989 alongside Robin Lynn Macy, Emily Strayer, and Martie Maguire. The original quartet released Thank Heavens for Dale Evans in 1990 and followed it with Little Ol’ Cowgirl in 1992. After Macy departed, the group continued as a trio and released Shouldn’t a Told You That in 1993.
The early lineup built a strong regional following, particularly across Texas and the Midwest. Lynch later parted ways with the group in the mid-1990s. At the time, the band was reassessing its long-term direction, and Lynch, who was raising a teenage daughter, expressed interest in stepping back from the demands of touring.
“When I was out there on the road having a bad day, it was awfully hard to be a Chick,” Lynch told the Dallas Morning News in 1995. She said she was looking forward to spending more time with her daughter.
After Lynch’s departure, the group recruited Natalie Maines as lead singer. The reconfigured trio went on to achieve major commercial success, becoming one of the most prominent acts in country music. In 2020, the band shortened its name to the Chicks.
Although Lynch did not remain closely connected to the group in later years, the Chicks released a statement following her death acknowledging her role in the band’s formative years. They credited her with helping propel the group from small local performances to larger stages and described her as a “bright light” whose energy and humor shaped the early identity of the band.
Chavez will serve his sentence in the Texas prison system.
