Man accused of DWI now faces second-degree murder in Gaston County
Monday, June 4th, 2012A man accused of drunk driving is facing upgraded felony charges after an incident Saturday night in a Mount Holly, North Carolina, parking lot. Authorities claim that a 50-year-old Charlotte man ran over his friend with a truck in the parking lot after some alleged form of argument.
Authorities had originally arrested the Charlotte man on suspicion of driving while impaired after the incident. Meanwhile, the 60-year-old friend was reportedly transported to Gaston Hospital after the incident with serious personal injuries, including head trauma. The man was later airlifted to Charlotte. He reportedly died at Carolinas’ Medical Center Monday evening.
Mount Holly Police say that they spoke to witnesses at an Asian market where the two men had visited before the parking lot incident. Authorities claim that the man accused of drunk driving admitted to his friend that he was too drunk to drive. A worker at the market says that the two men had some king of scuffle in the parking lot, and moments later the witness claims the 50-year-old man ran over the man who had earlier been a passenger in the pickup.
Authorities say that they do not know why the passenger was not inside the pickup when the accident allegedly occurred. Details remain sketchy about the incident. It is unclear what evidence besides the alleged admission inside the market that authorities have gathered to support the DWI charges.
After the 60-year-old man passed away Monday evening, the Gaston County District Attorney’s Office charged the man accused of drunk driving with second-degree murder. Authorities claim the man also faces a charge related to restrictions on his driver’s license.
The Charlotte resident is reportedly being held in the Gaston County Jail under a million secured bond.
Source: Gaston Gazette, “Murder charge filed in Gaston DWI death,” Wade Allen, May 30, 2012