Police charged a man with a DWI after a four-car collision at the Brookshire Boulevard intersection over Interstate 85 left one dead and three other drivers injured Wednesday night.
The Charlotte Observer reported that 36-year-old Steven Ray Johnson may have been under the influence of drugs and had fallen asleep at the wheel at the time of the wreck. Earlier in the day, police had released Johnson after arresting him for possession of drug paraphernalia.
According to police, Johnson was driving a 2005 Chevrolet Suburban in the southbound lane at a high rate of speed when he crashed into a 1999 GMC Jimmy driven by Leslie John Dahm. The force of the impact pushed both vehicles into the oncoming lanes of Brookshire Boulevard.
Dahm, 66, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigators said the suburban also hit a 2006 Ford Fusion head-on driven by 19-year-old Bianca Gibson. The Suburban also struck a 1997 Chevrolet pickup driven by Blossom Green, 39.
Gibson was treated at Carolinas Medical Center-Main. Green was treated at the scene but was not taken to a hospital.
Johnson was taken to Presbyterian Hospital. Police said they charged him with DWI. They also obtained arrest warrants for driving with a revoked license, reckless driving and involuntary manslaughter.
Detectives are still investigating. Anyone with information is asked to call CMPD’s major crash investigations unit at 704-336-8862.
