Video shows Blue Cross CEO swerving across I-85 before crash

Dr. Patrick Hugh Conway, 45, of 3113 Cone Manor Lane in Raleigh, was charged with driving while impaired, reckless driving and two counts of misdemeanor child abuse in the June 22 incident in Randolph County.

The charges against Conway have prompted Blue Cross to put a proposed "strategic affiliation" with Cambia Health Solutions on hold, a company spokesman said.

Cambia, which is based in Portland, Ore., owns Regence, a Blue Cross firm that operates in Oregon, Idaho, Utah and Washington, as well as other health care companies.

Retired teacher Scott Maddox said Tuesday that a black Cadillac Escalade "had just about run us off the road" as he and his wife were driving on I-85 on June 22. So, they called the State Highway Patrol and started recording.

"It wasn’t a matter of if, but when" the SUV would crash, Maddox said, noting that they recorded the SUV was swerving from lane to lane for 4 miles, almost colliding with several vehicles. "We knew something was going to happen."

Then, the Escalade side-swiped a Harris Teeter tractor-trailer.

No one was injured in the crash, but Conway's two daughters, ages 9 and 7, were in the SUV at the time.

After the crash, Maddox's wife tried to comfort the crying girls in the back seat, and he said Conway was "very agitated" and "seemed very confused."

"He had a hard time focusing, was pulling his hair, mumbling and wasn’t sure where he was at," Maddox said.

Conway's daughters "appeared as if they were scared to death" after the crash when Livingston checked on them in the back seat.

Conway initially told officers he fell asleep while driving after working third shift the previous night and getting off at 7 a.m. He said he was traveling from Raleigh to Lake James, near Morganton.

Later, Conway admitted to having two beers before driving.

"At this point, Conway's whole demeanor changed. Conway became very nervous and began talking about how he just wanted to go home and that he didn't do anything wrong," the report states. "Conway would begin to be upset, and then he would be very distant and refuse further cooperation."

Livingston and other officers performed field sobriety tests, and Conway had difficulty maintaining his balance during the tests.

"Once handcuffed, Conway stated numerous times, 'You had a choice. You made the wrong one. I haven't done anything wrong. You should feel disappointed,'" the report states.

At the Archdale police station, Conway became "absolutely belligerent," refusing a breath-alcohol test and cursing at officers. When he was put in a holding cell, he began kicking and pounding on the door.

"Conway had to be shackled to deter him from kicking the holding cell door," the report states.

Livingston said Conway threatened him in the drive from the police station to the Randolph County jail in Asheboro.

"'You had a choice. You could have let me go. You don't know who I am. I am a doctor, a CO of a company. I'll call Governor Cooper and get you in trouble.' Conway also asked multiple times for me to just unarrest him and let him go," the report states.

Before seeing a magistrate at the jail, Conway began pulling his hair out and said, "I'm so [expletive] stupid. I have messed up so bad," the report states. He then had so much difficulty signing the documents for his unsecured bond that the magistrate had to point out the two places for him to sign.

In a statement released to WRAL on Tuesday, Conway said he regrets the incident.

“I deeply regret this incident and the events that day as it is not consistent with the conduct that I strive to embody in my personal and professional life. I am taking this very seriously and am committed to dealing with the situation appropriately," the statement said.

Blue Cross has said a board committee investigated and determined Conway, who was paid $3.59 million last year, is a good leader who should stay on the job.

Conway is scheduled to appear in court on Oct. 8.

"The report is very shocking," Causey said Tuesday. "This is very serious. It's troubling to me anytime someone disrespects our law enforcement community."

He said he doesn't believe the Blue Cross board had all of the details of the incident when they decided to let Conway retain his post.

But Blue Cross Chairman Frank B. Holding Jr. said in a Monday letter to Causey that Conway has completed a 30-day, in-patient substance abuse treatment program.

"Based on detailed information shared by the facility, concerning Dr. Conway's assessment and treatment, the board was satisfied that Dr. Conway could continue to provide strong leadership to BlueCross NC," Holding wrote in the letter. "We understand Dr. Conway's pending legal case will likely be resolved in the coming weeks, and the board continues to review this matter as it progresses."

Maddox said he was irritated when he saw Blue Cross' statement last week on Conway's arrest and the board's support for him as CEO.

“That’s a pretty big deal. It wasn’t a minor thing," Maddox said of the crash. "He’s supposed to be a pediatrician who takes care of people."

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