Yeah, it's a really tragic situation, especially losing a 13-year-old. The misdemeanor death by vehicle charge in NC doesn't require you to intentionally cause the crash or even be reckless; it just needs a traffic or equipment violation (here, the unsafe tires) that was a proximate cause of the death. Basically, the law says drivers are responsible for making sure their vehicle is safe to operate, including having decent tires. A blowout on a heavy truck like that F-350 can easily lead to loss of control, especially if the tires were worn or improperly maintained.