Driver charged with DUI after crash with Charlotte bus; 15 people injured, police say
Fifteen people were injured after an intoxicated driver crashed into a bus early Easter Sunday in Charlotte, according to police.
Nelzo Arcenio Mendez Domingo, 30, ran a red light in a White Ford pickup at the intersection of Oaklawn Avenue and Statesville Avenue, according to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department. He struck another car before hitting a Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) bus.
There were 25 people on board Bus 2144 operating on Route 21, according to WSOC-TV, the Observer’s news partner. The wreck happened near the west entrance of Camp North End.
All injuries were minor and the people were taken to a hospital, MEDIC said.
Domingo is charged with driving under the influence and driving with a suspended license, CMPD officials said.
Recent CATS issues
Sunday’s crash is the latest issue confronting CATS’ operations.
Since last month, the transit system has been under renewed scrutiny when a light rail derailment came to light nearly a year after it happened. Now, it’s entire light rail fleet must be repaired.
CATS fired Terry Creech, the operator working during the derailment. He said he was the only controller working after he relieved a colleague from a 14-hour shift.
Three days after Creech’s termination, the North Carolina Department of Transportation sent a letter to CATS demanding it fully staff its light rail operations or suspend service. The NCDOT found that CATS’ Rail Operating Control Center — which runs Charlotte’s Gold Line and Blue Line trains — repeatedly functioned with just one controller.
The system must have two operators, NCDOT said. Otherwise it must cease service until a two fully qualified employees can work.
CATS implemented a mandatory overtime schedule to keep two controllers on each shift, according to interim CATS CEO Brent Cagle. It will take three to six months to hire more people and return to normal scheduling, he said.
This story was originally published April 9, 2023 at 9:42 AM.
