Alleged drunk driver decimates dealership
John Williams’ Chevrolet Suburban allegedly destroyed or damaged eight vehicles on a used car lot Friday night. Photo by Catherine Hardee / Neuse News
A local used car dealer found an extra car on his lot Friday night — but it was not a welcome addition.
Skid marks in the intersection show where Kinston’s John Williams began braking. Photo by Catherine Hardee / Neuse News
According to Trooper Gary Ipock of the State Highway Patrol, around 9:30 p.m. Friday night, John Williams of Kinston was driving an older Chevrolet Suburban and traveling at a high rate of speed on Dobbs Farm Road when he ran through a red light at the intersection with U.S. 258 North.
The Honda Del Sol, destroyed after acting as a ramp for the speeding Suburban. Photo by Catherine Hardee / Neuse News
HFT Sales, owned by L.E. Hardee, is across the intersection from the end of Dobbs Farm Road. When the car came speeding through the intersection, it jumped the curb, and what happened next must have been like something out of a movie.
The first car Williams encountered, a small Honda Del Sol, seemed to act as a ramp, Hardee said, launching the Suburban into the air, across the bed of a 1980 El Camino, and sending it nose-diving into the side of a 1984 Chevrolet Caprice.
The impact with the Caprice apparently caused the rear end of the Suburban to swing around, leaving it resting sideways on the hood and roof of the El Camino.
John Williams’ Chevy Suburban where it came to rest on top of an El Camino Photo by Catherine Hardee / Neuse News
Williams was not injured in the crash, and he was arrested when authorities arrived on the scene on suspicion of driving while impaired. A Breathalyzer showed a blood alcohol content of 0.09. According to Ipock, Williams is being held in the Lenoir County Jail on charges of driving while impaired, driving with a revoked license and driving without insurance.
Williams also had an outstanding warrant for failure to pay child support.
The Chevrolet Caprice that brought the Suburban to a halt. Photo by Catherine Hardee / Neuse News
Hardee said a quick estimate of the cost of the damage came to around $12,000. Eight of his vehicles were damaged, with four being total losses.
“I specialize in classic and collectible cars, and I can’t replace the cars that were destroyed. This is a real blow to my business,” Hardee said.
Ipock said the nine cars involved are the most he has ever had in a single accident report.
