Woman frustrated after charges against alleged drunken driver dismissed due to arresting officer missing court appearance
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WBTV/Gray News) - A North Carolina woman who waited over a year for justice after she was hit by a drunken driver was left frustrated after the charges against the accused driver were dismissed because the arresting officer was absent in court.
In January 2023, Brandi White was stopped at an intersection in Charlotte when her SUV was hit by another vehicle driver by an allegedly intoxicated driver.
Police reports and court documents said the driver’s blood alcohol content was measured at .15 and .16, exceeding the legal limit of .08. The records show the driver crossed the intersection while trying to turn too fast and crashed into White’s car.
“All I in that moment is sitting at the light, hearing nothing. Dead silence,” White said. “Then I see this image. It didn’t even look like a car. And then I close my eyes. And I feel not only my body shift, but I feel this car moving in a way where I am not controlling it.”
White’s car was completely totaled, with the driver’s side of the car taking the brunt of the impact. She said she was just thankful that her kids weren’t in the car with her when it happened.
Despite evidence, including a video of the driver struggling during a field sobriety test, the charges against the driver were dismissed in January 2024 after the arresting officer failed to appear in court for the fourth time.
“For the life of me I could not make any sense of it,” White said. “She was able to walk out of the courtroom, scot-free.”
As a result, White has been left with thousands of dollars in medical bills and car damage. She said she feels her case was disregarded by both the court system and the police department.
After they were ed by WBTV, the district attorney’s office reached out to White again to tell her they are reviewing the case and considering refiling charges against the driver. However, no timeline has been provided for this potential action.
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