Deer causes alleged accident, driver charged with DWI
Thursday, September 15th, 2011The North Carolina Highway Patrol says a man driving a 1971 military-style Jeep swerved to miss a deer in the road early Monday morning. The right tires of the Jeep reportedly hit the ditch. Troopers say the driver overcorrected and the Jeep went into a roll. A passenger in the Jeep was pinned underneath the Jeep for a period of time until emergency responders arrived and freed the man
Law enforcement claims tests show the driver had a blood alcohol content of 0.08 percent after the accident. The driver now faces charges of driving while impaired and failing to maintain lane control in relation to the incident.
Trooper K. Woods of the North Carolina Highway Patrol says the passenger was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the accident. But Woods does not believe a seat belt would have made a difference based upon the way the Jeep rolled over. Woods tells the Wilson Times that the passenger probably would have been pinned under the Jeep even if had had been wearing a seat belt.
The passenger was flown in a Life Flight Helicopter to Pitt Memorial Hospital. Authorities say the man’s injuries do not appear to be life-threatening.
The driver was taken to the Wilson County Jail on suspicion of DWI charges. Authorities indicate the man posted bond and has been released pending further proceedings.
Police say the two men were out for a short ride. Woods says he believes the two “were just out riding and making a circle around the farm and then going to return to [the driver's] house” when the confrontation with the deer occurred.
Source: Wilson Daily Times, “1 charged, 1 rescued,” Sept. 6, 2011