The hit-and-run driver who struck and killed a cyclist on North Carolina Highway 191 on the afternoon of July 18 was impaired by drugs or alcohol according to a State Highway Patrol report. The 25-year-old woman has been charged with felony hit-and-run, driving under the influence, driving with a revoked driver’s license and reckless driving. An SHP representative said that the investigation into the accident is ongoing and even more serious charges are likely to be filed because the victim died.
Investigation launched into hit-and-run accident
The accident that prompted the hit-and-run investigation took place at approximately 5:22 p.m. near the intersection of NC 191 and Bent Creek Road. According to police, a 56-year-old cyclist was struck by a Buick sedan that then left the scene. Paramedics did what they could for the woman, but she succumbed to her injuries after being transported to a hospital in Asheville.
Witness helps police to identify driver
The woman who was allegedly behind the wheel of the Buick was taken into custody a short time later. A witness gave investigators a description of the vehicle, which was then spotted and pulled over on Ball Gap Road. Initial reports do not include the results of any toxicology tests or indicate what led police to determine that the woman was intoxicated.
Resisting the urge to leave the scene
The impulse to flee the scene of an accident can be strong, and this is especially true when a road user has been injured or killed and the driver responsible is impaired and faces years in prison on DUI charges. Experienced criminal defense attorneys could advise drivers to resist this urge and avail themselves of their rights to remain silent and consult with a lawyer when the police arrive. This is because attempts to elude law enforcement are rarely successful and usually only serve to make an already bad situation even worse.