North Carolina Highway Patrol reports that on Sunday, January 14, at approximately 1:20 a.m., NC Highway Patrol communications began receiving calls about a white truck traveling south from Hickory in the northbound lanes of US 321.
There were reports the driver was intentionally swerving into oncoming traffic. At the same time, it was reported that the truck had struck several vehicles near River Road and continued south in the northbound lanes.
Troopers were able to locate the vehicle as it was approaching the Lincoln County line near the 30-mile marker.
As the trooper got in position to stop the wrong-way vehicle, it swerved at him as it passed by. The trooper then also traveled in the northbound lane for approximately a tenth of a mile before catching up to the vehicle where he immediately executed the precision immobilization technique or PIT maneuver to stop the vehicle. The PIT maneuver was successful, and the driver was taken into custody without further incident. The trooper nor the suspect were injured.
The drivers of the vehicles that were hit, were transported by EMS to an area hospital with minor injuries.
The wrong-way driver, Ricardo Padilla-Perez, 30, of Marion, North Carolina, was charged with two counts of felony hit and run, driving while impaired, careless and reckless driving, and no driver’s license. He was transported to the Catawba County Jail where he was placed under a $4000.00 bond.
