Woman charged after CMPD telecommunicator killed in I-77 crash

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Investigators have charged Tricia Thompson with DWI following a fatal crash on I-77 Thursday evening.

[IMAGES: Fatal wreck on I-77 at state line]

The wreck happened around 7:30 in the southbound lanes of I-77, near the state line, officials said, closing two lanes for hours.

(Trisha Thompson)

"This is a tough loss for us, totally unexpected a car accident,” Charlotte-Mecklenburg police Chief Kerr Putney said.

Allow extra time on interstate 77 south bound at state line emergency crews on the scene investigated fatal crash @wsoctv pic.twitter.com/ZuJBcvLJor
— Joey Williams (@JWilliamsWSOC09) April 6, 2018

According to CMPD Capt. David Poston, Nicole Schieb - a Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department telecommunicator - was a passenger in one of the vehicles involved in the crash and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Her brother, CMPD Officer Christopher Schieb, was also in the vehicle and suffered minor injuries, according to Poston. An 11-year-old child was also seriously hurt.

"Physically, they have some pretty significant injuries,” Putney said, “Our officer is doing pretty well. He's really strong and supporting his family."

Nicole was hired by the department in July 2012.

Troopers are investigating this accident.

They said Thompson may have been headed back home to McConnels when the crash occurred. She's charged with driving drunk.

"I think people should really take that into consideration before they put another person's life at risk,” driver Erica Wright said.

"I'm sure they have a lot of mixed feeling about one of their own,” driver Kristy Hernandez said. “Even as a civilian, it's heartbreaking, so I can't imagine how they would feel."

GoFundMe: Donations for the Schieb Family

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