Charlotte man faces DWI charges, felony death warrant after crash
Police say a 19-year-old Charlotte man faces multiple charges after allegedly crashing his car in an alcohol related accident. Law enforcement claims the young man lost control of his 2004 Ford Mustang while traveling northwest on Scaleybark Road in south Charlotte, North Carolina. Police say the car ran off the road around 11:30 p.m. Tuesday night. Police say the Mustang careened off a power pole, rolled onto its side before crashing into a tree alongside the road. Police originally charged the 19-year-old with driving while impaired and reckless driving.
A 42-year-old woman, who was riding in the Mustang as a passenger, reportedly died in the crash. Law enforcement says they have obtained warrants for felony hit and run and felony death by motor vehicle. Any Greenville DWI defense attorney would understand the state can charge a person with felony death by vehicle based upon allegations of a driver, who is allegedly impaired as defined under North Carolina law and who allegedly causes a car accident involving the death of another person. A person charged with a DWI related offense has the right to defend against the charge.
Law enforcement claims a witness says the 19-year-old climbed out of the wrecked Mustang and fled on foot after the accident. The witness says the Charlotte man ran from the car around the time emergency personnel arrived at the crash site.
Law enforcement says they located the 19-year-old a short distance from the crash scene and took him to Carolinas Medical Center for treatment of minor injuries. The young man now faces serious charges based upon the allegations of law enforcement.
Source: Charlotte Observer, “Driver runs from scene of crash, female passenger dies,” Steve Lyttle 6 Jul 2011
Tags: After, Charges, Charlotte, Crash, death, Faces, felony, warrant