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7:59 p.m. • 2-12-12

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Wrong-Way Drunken Driver Released From Hospital


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Wrong-Way Drunken Driver Released From Hospital
Wrong-Way Driver's Condition Upgraded

The drunken driver who smashed into a truck after driving 20 miles the wrong way on I-95 Thursday has been discharged from Cape Fear Valley Medical Center.

He was previously listed in "good condition." 

Bradley Graves, 37, got on I-95 in Lumberton and drove north in the southbound lanes at 90 mph in his GMC Yukon. He began grazing vehicles and eventually collided with a truck in Fayetteville, according to investigators.

The tanker truck, driven by Louis Damon, 56, swerved abruptly and overturned, spilling nearly 50 gallons of cyclomethicone, a chemical liquid used in antiperspirants. Damon was not injured in the accident, and highway crews were able to contain the liquid and clear it from the roadway.

Greg Gibson was also on the road early Thursday morning. He was driving his brand new VW Jetta when he saw Graves' headlights coming toward him.

"I said, 'That car's in my lane!'" Gibson recalled saying to his father, who was sitting in the passenger seat.

With a transfer truck to his right and a guardrail nearby, Gibson had little room to maneuver. He swerved to the right and hit the transfer truck, which knocked his car to the left-lane guardrail. Neither Gibson nor his father were hurt, but the car sustained some damage. He is amazed no one was hurt.

"I hope [Graves] is feeling very fortunate," Gibson said.

Officials with the Highway Patrol said they were alerted about Graves' driving and were planning on intercepting him before he was involved in the accident.

"We had troopers scrambling to get to the area to intercept this car before a collision occurred," said Sgt. Joel Siles. "But we were unsuccessful in apprehending him."

Investigators said Graves was taken to the hospital with serious injuries, but he is now in better condition. Graves has been charged with DWI, reckless driving and driving the wrong way on a dual-lane highway.

This wasn't Graves' first time drinking and driving. Records show he was arrested in 1989 and 1996 for driving while intoxicated.

RELATED TOPICS: Fayetteville, Cape Fear River

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26 Comments


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ok - 2007 - and our society gets worse and worse and people get away with stupid things - we pay millions of dollars for an actual murderer who kills in cold blood to have a 2 year trial - wait in prison for 20 years before carrying out their sentence - I don't think it's the criminal who's stupid - it's the people who get upset and write stupid comments on a news site rather than doing something about it - write congress or something instead!

friendoffamily-eh,he abused the alcohol himself!he made the choice to drink to get high.Im also sure he has to know uh let me see,this is the year 2007.DRINKING AND DRIVING ARE AGAINST THE LAW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is his 3rd DWI. How many more times do you think he was out there drunk and didn't get caught?

As the comedian says, "You can't fix stupid!" This guy obviously has no desire to learn from his previous mistakes! Lock him up and throw away the key! He doesn't deserve to be out in society!

Three strikes - you're out! This man should be put away for a long time & never allowed to be licensed. Some people never learn & apparently this guy is one of them. The potential of many innocent people getting seriously injured or killed was evermore present during his twenty minute ride! What I can't understand is why didn't he realize he was headed the wrong way after grazing these vehicles? Was he this drunk, that stupid, or both????? KEEP HIM OFF THE ROAD!

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