Police charge wrong-way driver with DWI

On Behalf of | Aug 21, 2021 | Criminal Defense |

North Carolina police officers claim that a driver who almost caused a serious accident was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the collision. Multiple people were injured in the collision, including the driver. The driver has since been charged with: 

  • DWI 
  • Reckless driving 
  • Driving in the wrong direction on a controlled access highway 

A wrong-way driver 

The accident occurred shortly after midnight on Aug. 15, 2021. At the time, two men in a church van had just finished dropping off members following a function. The two men were headed east in the far left lane on I-40 when another vehicle driving in the opposite direction appeared in the same lane. The driver of the church van managed to swerve at the last moment and avoided a head-on collision. 

What happened afterward is not entirely clear, but both men in the church van suffered injuries. The 37-year-old driver was also injured in the incident. However, none of the men required serious medical attention at a hospital, and they were instead treated while still at the scene of the accident. Authorities who responded to the scene claim that the man who had allegedly been driving in the wrong direction appeared to be extremely intoxicated. 

Drunk driving charges are serious. North Carolina defendants who are accused of DWI may lose their licenses, pay hefty fines and even spend time in jail. To minimize these and other potential consequences, defendants who are interested in building a strong defense may want to consider reaching out to a knowledgeable attorney for guidance.