9 Investigates: DWI arrests drop dramatically despite Meck. Co. growth

MECKLENBURG COUNTY, N.C. — Mecklenburg County's population is booming with more than 1 million people, which means that more drivers are sharing the roads. But Channel 9 uncovered a dramatic drop in drunken-driving arrests.

Kelly Hildreth and Kristen Hammond can't believe they survived a January crash in Ballantyne.

(Photo of crash when Channel 9 covered it in January)

[IMAGES: 5 hurt in serious crash in Ballantyne]

"When I was able to climb out of the car, I could feel blood pouring down my face," Hildreth said.

Their SUV flipped several times. Hildreth escaped out a window but Hammond and two other passengers were trapped and seriously hurt.

(WEB EXTRA: Kelly Hildreth describes her escape from the vehicle after the crash)

"It was pain I've never felt before," Hammond said. "I had two brain bleeds, one up here at the front, and my forehead was full of glass."

Hammond won't get to graduate from college this spring. Her injuries caused her to miss too many classes.

Police said the other driver was drunk and did not survive.

[PAST COVERAGE: Man dies 1 day after serious crash in Ballantyne, police say]

Channel 9 anchor Allison Latos researched 14 years’ worth of drunken-driving charges and discovered a huge decrease in Mecklenburg County.

Law enforcement departments across Mecklenburg County arrested 5,202 people in 2001. That number was only 2,988 in 2015, a 42 percent drop all while the county's population grew.

"Are we ignoring the problem of driving while impaired in Charlotte to such an extent that it's going to start killing people?" defense attorney Bill Powers, who often represents accused drunken drivers, asked.

(WEB EXTRA: Bill Powers explains his concerns about lack of drunk driving arrests)

Allison asked Charlotte-Mecklenburg police Sgt. Jesse Wood, who oversees the department’s DWI task force, for an explanation to the drop in arrests.

"I hope it’s because some of our enforcement and education efforts have convinced people to change their habits," Wood said.

Police can take training classes at Central Piedmont Community College on spotting and investigating drunken drivers. The courses are voluntary, but Channel 9 learned that nearly a dozen classes have been canceled in the last two years due to lack of attendance.

Tony Chesser is an alcohol beverage control officer and one of the instructors.

Allison asked Chesser if there is a lack of interest from officers in getting extra training.

"To a certain extent, yes," Chesser said. "There's not the push there used to be. Right now, DWIs have not been a huge focal point of the vast majority of law enforcement in Mecklenburg County."

Wood said patrol officers might not need the extra training and their time is better spent on the roads.

Hildreth and Hammond hope their story will stop someone else before they get behind the wheel drunk.

(WEB EXTRA: Kristen Hammond describes reaction when she learned the driver was drunk)

"It hurt. It hurt," Hildreth said. "It hurt even worse to know his mistake cost him his life."

CMPD said all 1,900 officers can make DWI arrests. The DWI Task Force provides DWI training to officers during roll call and has been working to catch drunken drivers during its ongoing Spring Alive campaign.

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