Gaston sheriff taken to hospital after car hit by suspected drunk driver

Gaston County Sheriff Alan Cloninger was taken to the hospital Thursday after his unmarked patrol cruiser was rear-ended by a suspected drunk driver.

The collision happened Thursday around 2:30 p.m. on Gastonia-Bessemer City Highway near Interstate 85. Gastonia Police said Cloninger and Chief Deputy Kim Johnson were stopped at a stop sign when their vehicle was rear-ended by a 2005 Nissan Altima.

Kuzundra Burch Mance, 53, of Gastonia was charged with driving while impaired and failure to decrease speed to avoid a collision. She was evaluated by paramedics, but didn’t need to be taken to the hospital. She was booked into Gaston County jail around 5:20 p.m. and was being held on $1,000 bail.

Officials told WBTV, the Observer’s news partner, that the car was going about 35 mph when it struck the patrol car.

Cloninger was taken to Caramont Medical Center. He’s expected to recover.

This story was originally published January 14, 2016 at 5:56 PM with the headline "Gaston sheriff taken to hospital after car hit by suspected drunk driver."