Jan 19, 2023 - News

North Carolina Auditor Beth Wood charged with hit-and-run

A portrait of N.C. state Auditor Beth Wood.

State Auditor Beth Wood's official portrait. Photo: N.C. State Audtior's Office.

North Carolina State Auditor Beth Wood is facing a misdemeanor charge for a hit-and-run on Salisbury and Hargett Streets in downtown Raleigh the evening of Dec. 8, records show.

  • She'll appear in court Jan. 26.

Details: Wood is charged with a Class 2 hit-and-run, leaving the scene and property damage. Wood also received an infraction for unsafe movement.

The latest: At least three people called 911 in quick succession to alert police of the incident, saying a black Toyota Camry, which one caller described as "a state-owned vehicle," was on top of a parked white car.

  • "Two of the wheels are no longer on the ground," one caller said of the black Toyota. "The other two are on the ground, and the car is on, and nobody's in it."
  • It's unclear when or how Wood left the scene.

The intrigue: The incident remained under wraps until it came to light Wednesday, more than a month after it happened.

  • The Raleigh Police Department provided scant details on the wreck, releasing only the location of the incident and the name of the responding officer.
  • Wood did not return numerous phone calls, and her office declined to comment on the matter Thursday morning.

What's next: Wake County District Attorney Lorrin Freeman confirmed the charges against the auditor and said there was an investigation surrounding the incident.

  • "It will be handled the same way any of those sorts of charges typically are," said Freeman, who is also pursuing charges against state Attorney General Josh Stein.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

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