On Sunday June 23, 2024, at approximately 12:15 a.m., Officers from the Morganton Department of Public Safety responded to a motor vehicle crash with injuries at 1301 E Union Street. Upon arrival, they found a heavily damaged vehicle that had collided with a building at the specified location. Emergency personnel extracted the driver from the vehicle and transported her to a nearby medical facility. The driver was identified as Morgan Tiara Smith, 25, of Morganton. Following further investigation, Smith was subsequently charged with the following offenses:
- Driving While Impaired
- Felony Possession of a Schedule II Controlled Substance
- Possession of a Schedule VI Controlled Substance
- Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
- Careless and Reckless Driving
- Failure to Maintain Lane Control
City officials responded to the crash scene and declared the building unsafe to enter. Speed and impairing substances were suspected to be contributing factors to the crash. Smith’s first court appearance is scheduled for September 20th, 2024.
Agencies involved: Morganton Department of Public Safety, City of Morganton Building Inspector, Burke County EMS, Burke County Rescue Squad
