Alleged moped driver charged with NC DWI, fleeing scene of accident
Friday, July 27th, 2012A 51-year-old resident of Faith, North Carolina was arrested in Salisbury, North Carolina, Sunday on suspicion of driving while impaired. The North Carolina Highway Patrol says that the man accused of DWI was driving a moped when a passenger on the bike fell off.
Troopers say the driver of the moped stopped briefly at the scene. However, law enforcement accused the alleged moped driver of fleeing the scene of the accident after gathering a few items from the accident scene. Troopers apparently base their suspicions from witness statements.
The witnesses say that a passenger fell off the moped around 6:00 Sunday evening as the driver was negotiating a turn in Salisbury. The witnesses claim that the driver stopped, and later fled the scene. Troopers say that the witnesses provided a description of the person who was driving the moped at the time of the accident.
Investigators located a man that troopers claim matches the witness’s description. The man was found down the road from the scene of the accident. Law enforcement claims that the man was hiding behind a tree.
The man who witnesses say was a passenger on the moped was taken to Rowan Regional Medical Center with undisclosed injuries.
The Faith, North Carolina man is now accused of drunk driving on a moped and fleeing the scene of an accident.
North Carolina DWI laws are applied broadly in terms of the vehicles used in public places in the state. This blog has previously reported a DWI arrest involving a moped. This blog has also covered stories related to DWI charges involving bicycles, golf carts and more.
It is important when accused of driving while impaired to consider speaking with a seasoned Pitt County DWI defense lawyer for a review of the allegations and to learn what defenses may be available in specific circumstances.
Source: Salisbury Post, “Police: Drink driver hid behind tree after accident,” July 23, 2012