Man accused of hitting CMPD car in drunk driving crash was on suspended license
A man accused of drunkenly crashing into a Charlotte-Mecklenburg police vehicle and injuring two officers in southeast Charlotte on Wednesday previously had his license revoked for driving while impaired, according to court records.
Thomas Royster, 36, was accused of driving a Buick Regal over double yellow lines in the 2500 block of East Independence Boulevard into oncoming traffic at 5:51 p.m., according to court documents. He then crashed into the marked police vehicle head on. Court documents said Royster’s breath smelled strongly of alcohol.
The officers and Royster were taken to the hospital. The officers were treated for non-life-threatening injuries and released. A third CMPD officer injured while responding to the crash was also released from the hospital; police did not say how that officer was hurt.
Court documents also show a search warrant was obtained to get blood or urine samples from Royster to be tested.
Royster was charged this week with two counts of felony serious injury by vehicle and one count of driving while license revoked after an impaired revocation, according to court records.
He was also issued citations for open container, reckless driving, unsafe movement, HOV lane violation, seatbelt violation, and driving left of center, a CMPD press release said.
The press release said Royster’s license was already suspended for a 2025 DWI conviction.
Court records show Royster was charged with a DWI in 2022. He pleaded guilty this year on Feb. 27, and was ordered to seek treatment, not drive, and surrender his license for a year.
A magistrate set a $30,000 secured bond on Thursday. He was ordered not to drive a vehicle until licensed.
