Charges upgraded after bicyclist dies in DWI crash, police say

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A bicyclist who was seriously injured in a hit-and-run Friday on Matheson Avenue in north Charlotte has died, police said.

Tamara Juarez, 23. is accused of hitting the bicyclist and then driving off, leaving the man lying in the road with serious injuries, police said.

The bicyclist, Gregory Mobley, died at Carolinas Medical Center on Friday evening.

Police found Juarez a few miles away just moments after the crash.

An arrest warrant for felony death by motor vehicle has been filed against Juarez.

[PHOTOS: Bicyclist hit by car in north Charlotte]

(Juarez)

The crash was reported around 1 a.m.

Only Channel 9 was there as officers administered a field sobriety test and took the woman into custody just miles away on North Tryon Street. Police identified her as Juarez.

Officers said they found her because she crashed a second time.

Her car was badly damaged, with the windshield smashed and the front left tire missing. Pieces of a bicycle could be seen under the car.

Mobley, 29, was rushed to the hospital with critical injuries.

Juarez initially faced charges for DWI, driving with a revoked license, open container and felony hit-and-run.

The Matheson Avenue Bridge was closed until 8 a.m. while police investigated the collision.

(Click PLAY for raw video of Juarez's arrest)

Channel 9 talked to a pedestrian who worries about his own safety every time he walks across the Matheson Bridge.

He said he hurt someone in a DUI crash years ago.

Channel 9 asked him what he would tell the woman charged in Friday morning's hit-and-run crash.

"She needs to be careful," Jerry Allen said. "I hit somebody a long time ago. I don't drink no more. I don't smoke no more. I don't do none of that no more. I work now."

Police told Channel 9 they have been arresting about 50 people a week for DUI.

As the weather gets warmer, police said there will be more foot and bike traffic, so they're worried the number of cases will increase.

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