Date/Time of Offense: Tuesday, November 30, 2021.

Offense(s)/Charge(s): 

Location of Incident: Interstate 77 north bound at the Rest Area. 

Suspect(s):                      

Sheriff Darren Campbell stated: On Tuesday, November 30, 2021, members of the Iredell County Sheriff‘s Office Interstate Criminal Enforcement (ICE) Team were working in the area of Interstate 77 near Exit 59, when they were approached by individuals who reported a silver colored SUV which was being operated in a very erratic manner by a person who was most likely impaired traveling north. 

The deputies searched the area for the vehicle, found it in the rest area. The vehicle had struck the guardrail entering the rest area, along with trash cans and other items. The vehicle ended up facing south in the north bound entrance lane of the rest area.

The deputies approached the vehicle, and saw the driver slumped over the steering wheel, and was unresponsive. The deputies pried the driver’s door open, and then noticed the driver was not breathing. While determining if the driver had any additional injuries, the deputies noticed items of drug paraphernalia, and a substance they believed to be heroin inside the SUV.

The deputies removed the driver from the vehicle and laid him on the ground. They quickly administered Narcan, and used a bag valve mask, from their first aid kit, to provide rescue breathing to the driver. A second dose of Narcan was administered and rescue breaths were continued. Iredell County EMS, and First Responders from Ebenezer Fire and Rescue, arrived on scene to assist with medical care. 

The driver began breathing on his own and eventually gained consciousness. 

The North Carolina Highway Patrol responded to investigate the accident.