NC State Auditor Beth Wood crashed into his car. 'It's been pretty crazy'

“I get a phone call from my daughter [who] literally … says, ‘There’s a car on top of the car,’” Valverde said.

In an interview with WRAL News, Valverde described that call and other details about what happened that night. WRAL News also obtained images matching his account of the Dec. 8, 2022, crash.

Valverde's daughter had borrowed the car to go to work at a downtown restaurant.

“One of the last things [my daughter] told me was, ‘Hey, the car that’s on top of my car is a state government vehicle,’” he said.

The black, state-owned Toyota Camry — the one issued to Wood — was left at the scene with the engine on, according to a police report.

"The driver of the vehicle appeared to have fled the scene," the report said.

Valverde explained what the two cars looked like at the scene.

"Like, the car was on a side wheelie, I guess, how she drove up on the car and it was on the side," he said.

Wood, 68, was charged Dec. 12 with misdemeanor hit-and-run. She is scheduled to appear in court on Thursday.

Since then? “It’s been pretty crazy,” Valverde said.

Photos show aftermath of crash scene NC State Auditor Beth Wood is accused of leaving

Wood has declined to comment on the crash. She referred questions to her lawyer, Roger Smith Jr.

Smith hasn't responded to requests for comment.

“I made a sharp sudden turn and struck a parked vehicle,” Wood wrote in the accident description.

Wood, 68, noted that she was driving 15 mph and was not using a mobile device or reaching for something.

Political response muted as questions linger on state auditor's car crash

Valverde said he didn’t find out the driver’s name until Jan. 6.

“I’m just kind of in awe,” Valverde said. “One, like, how could something happen like that? And two, why would someone just flee the scene like that?”

Valverde said he briefly spoke to Wood earlier this month.

“She referred me to her lawyer, as she should, right?” Valverde said.

Valverde said he wants some accountability.

“We trust our government officials to be responsible in everything they do, and I think that was very irresponsible of her to flee the scene,” he said.

Meredith College political science professor David McLennan said there is a lot of uncertainty but that Wood would be well served by explaining what happened. McLennan also said the longer the ordeal goes on, it could raise question about how Wood does her job.

“If it is simply a traffic accident, it is embarrassing,” McLennan said. “... What raises questions for me is, why is she so silent about it?”