Wreck happened after man used booze to spark romance with teen, NC official says
A wreck that seriously injured three people occurred after the 18-year-old driver drank alcohol provided by a man hoping for a date, according to the N.C. Alcohol Law Enforcement Division.
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It happened Sept. 8 on Teague Town Road in Bethlehem, and the N.C. State Highway Patrol found a 12-pack of Twisted Tea at the scene, the ALE said in a news release.
“The vehicle carrying three people, two of which were juveniles, crossed the centerline of the road and collided with a ditch and a utility pole before overturning several times and ejecting the driver. Only one of the vehicle occupants was wearing a seatbelt,” the ALE said.
“The 18-year-old driver was airlifted to the hospital with serious injuries, while the two juvenile occupants sustained serious injuries and were transported to a local hospital.”
An investigation determined 30-year-old Alexander Church of Claremont gave alcohol to 18-year-old Cheyanne Ruiz “in hopes of becoming romantically involved,” the ALE said.
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“Ruiz later consumed the alcohol and provided it to the two 17-year-old occupants,” officials said.
Church has been charged with providing alcohol to an underage person, and aiding and abetting the unlawful possession of alcohol by an underage person, officials said.
Ruiz, who lives in Catawba, has been charged with two counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, aiding and abetting underage possession of alcohol, and underage possession of alcohol, officials said.
“Ruiz was also charged by the NCSHP with driving while impaired, underage driving after consuming, and operating a motor vehicle with wanton disregard for safety,” the ALE said.
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Bethlehem is about an 55-mile drive northwest from uptown Charlotte.
