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NC takes away auditor Beth Wood's state-owned car, damages total $7,700

The state said the towing and repairs to the car Wood wrecked in the Dec. 8 incident totaled about $7,700.

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By
WRAL News staff

The state agency that manages state-owned cars suspended State Auditor Beth Wood’s vehicle assignment as an investigation continues into a crash that resulted in a hit-and-run charge against Wood. Meanwhile, the state said the towing and repairs to the car Woods wrecked in the Dec. 8 incident totaled about $7,700.

The state Motor Fleet Management director notified Wood on Tuesday that Wood’s vehicle assignment was temporarily suspended due to an ongoing investigation into the downtown Raleigh crash, according to details released Friday by the state Department of Administration following a public records request by WRAL.

The car, a 2021 Toyota sedan, had been assigned to her in April 2021. The state hasn’t assigned her another state vehicle since then, according to the administration department, which manages the motor fleet division.

The suspension came on the same day WRAL reported on a social media video showing the aftermath of the crash and a group of people ushering a person who fits the description of Woods away from the crash scene — including some yelling “get her out of here.”

Wood was charged Dec 12 with misdemeanor hit-and-run resulting in property damage after the crash, which happened on Salisbury Street near Hargett Street.

Wood drove the state-owned Toyota into a parked car, rolling partially up onto its hood, according to police reports, images and descriptions of the crash aftermath reported to emergency dispatchers. Police arrived at the scene to find the engine running and no driver, one of those reports said. She was also cited for an unsafe movement infraction. Wood is due in court on March 23.
Wood didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment on Friday. She said in a statement on Monday that she had been attending a holiday gathering for about two hours prior to the crash. WRAL reported that she was attending a private party.

“I was shaken by the incident and, when I was unable to move my vehicle, I left the scene,” she said in the statement. “That was a serious mistake and I regret my decision.”

State employees who are assigned state-owned vehicles are expected to abide by rules and regulations outlined by the state’s Motor Fleet Management division. “The same rules and regulations apply to all drivers of state-owned vehicles regardless of the employee’s position,” the administration department said in an email.

Those policies require state employees to report accidents; Wood did so shortly after the incident. The policy allows state-owned cars to be used to obtain personal necessities, such as meals, “but not for entertainment or any personal purposes.” In a report to insurers, Wood said she was using the vehicle for business reasons.

It also prohibits the use of a state owned vehicle if the driver has been drinking. The party Wood is said to have attended featured “food, drink and festivities,” according to a copy of the invitation obtained by WRAL. A lawyer for Wood hasn’t responded to questions about whether Wood was drinking at the party.

According to the state’s administration department, each state department is allowed to write its own policies in addition to the motor fleet regulations. The Office of the State Auditor doesn't have any separate or additional policies related to the use of state-owned vehicles, the auditor's office said.

Wood was involved in another crash in late November in her personal vehicle, according to a police report. She wasn’t cited in the incident, nor was she found at fault.

The administration department said it isn’t aware of any other accidents involving Wood driving a state-owned vehicle prior to Dec. 8.

Wood is the only person charged in the crash. Wake County District Attorney Lorrin Freeman said this week that investigators haven't found sufficient evidence to charge anyone else in connection with the incident.

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