A 21-year-old man crashed into the back of a mobile testing bus while officers and a magistrate were closing down a DWI checkpoint around 3 a.m. Saturday. Police officers suspect that the driver may have been under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crash. The man was transported to Catawba Valley Medical Center after losing consciousness following the rear-end collision.
The mobile testing unit is housed in a converted bus for the ease of checking drivers at DWI checkpoints. At the time of the collision, there were several people inside the bus including a magistrate, police officers and two suspected of drunk driving who were held earlier in the night.
The DWI checkpoint was being conducted along U.S. Highway 321 when the car accident occurred. Police are still investigating the cause of the crash to determine whether the 21-year-old driver should be arrested for his role in the collision. It appears that none of the occupants of the mobile testing unit were seriously injured in the crash.
DWI checkpoints are relatively common in North Carolina. The checkpoints are often run by a collaborative group of law enforcement agencies throughout the area. In most checkpoints, every driver must stop at the checkpoint to speak with officers. If the officers suspect drug or alcohol use while driving, they may ask the driver to exit the vehicle for further testing.
Source: Blue Ridge Now, “NC man crashes into DWI checkpoint, charge pending,” 12/5/2011