A man who allegedly left the scene of an accident after the vehicle he was driving collided with a moped on Dec. 19 has now been charged in connection with the incident, according to Charlotte-Mecklenburg police. News sources report that a 22-year-old female passenger was killed when she was thrown from the moped and that the 19-year-old man who was driving it was seriously injured. Although preliminary reports do not indicate whether alcohol or drugs were factors in the crash, sources now say that the hit-and-run driver is facing charges of DWI and felony death by vehicle.
Investigators say that the accident occurred when a 2011 Infiniti driven by a 46-year-old man rear-ended the moped in the 10000 block of Old Statesville Road some time before 11:30 p.m. Police reports indicate that the force of the impact caused the moped to become stuck to the front of the larger vehicle and both of the moped’s riders to be ejected.
Following the collision, the alleged drunk driver fled the scene in his vehicle. He reportedly drove approximately 1 mile before parking the Infiniti at a closed business and continuing on foot. Authorities located the man, who suffered non-life-threatening injuries in the crash, with the help of helicopter and K-9 units and transported him to Carolina’s Medical Center for treatment.
In North Carolina, aggravating circumstances such as those present in this case can cause penalties for a DUI or DWI conviction to be particularly severe. However, examination of the facts of the case might reveal issues with protocols followed by police, deficiencies with the evidence or even mechanical issues that could possibly have rendered the moped difficult to detect in the dark. After analyzing the case, a DWI attorney may be able to formulate a defense strategy that could lead to reduced consequences for the client or possibly exoneration of the drunk driving charges.
Child Support Calculator