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CHARLOTTE — A 29-year-old man was charged with a DWI on Wednesday after he hit a Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department patrol SUV head-on in east Charlotte, seriously injuring two officers, authorities said.
The crash happened around 3 a.m. on Central Avenue, near North Sharon Amity Road.
A bad wreck involving a @CMPD cruiser is blocking both lanes of Central Ave near N. Sharon Amity Rd. in East Charlotte. Crime scene detectives just arrived. I’ll have the latest from here plus @TrafficTeam9 will have your alternate routes on @wsoctv starting at 4:30am. pic.twitter.com/Xfk8lnlgGz
— Anthony Kustura (@AnthonyWSOC9) June 16, 2021
CMPD Officers C. Henderson and X. Thao were heading inbound on Central Avenue, responding to a crash, when Robert Chris Cortez’s Ford Focus -- driving the wrong way -- crashed into their patrol SUV, according to investigators.
Both vehicles were badly mangled and had heavy front-end damage with debris scattered across the roadway.
Both officers were taken to the hospital with serious injuries. Cortez was taken to the hospital with minor injuries.
Here’s a closer look at the damage from that wreck on Central Ave. that sent three people to the hospital. Pretty easy to see why. We’re asking if that includes an officer. The road is back open. @wsoctv pic.twitter.com/iskTx3mKmz
— Anthony Kustura (@AnthonyWSOC9) June 16, 2021
At the hospital, it was determined that Cortez was driving under the influence and was impaired. He was released from the hospital and booked into the Mecklenburg County Jail.
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He was also charged with two counts of felony serious injury by motor vehicle, driving left of center and driving while license revoked for an impaired driving offense.
(WATCH: CMPD continues charge to end street racing in Queen City)
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