WRAL Investigates: NC Auditor Beth Wood still won't answer questions about December crash

WRAL Investigates sent multiple questions to Wood’s attorney, as well as the Auditor’s Office about the Dec. 8 crash. Among our questions were what happened leading up to the crash, why did she leave the running vehicle at the scene and was she drinking alcohol that night?

After weeks of silence from both parties, aside from a statement released by Wood’s attorney that didn’t answer any of the questions, WRAL Investigates approached Wood outside of her office. Here is the exchange Wood had with WRAL Investigates’ Cullen Browder:

Wood: Here’s the deal. It never works to talk to you guys. No matter what I say. No matter how I try to tell it, it never comes out in the media the way I say it. So, for 15 years, I have figured out that talking to y’all doesn’t work for me. So, I’m just not going to do that today.

Wood: Because it never comes out, no matter what I say, no matter how it really is, it never shows up in the media that way. So, I am not going to talk.

Wood proceeded to close the door of a privately owned Cadillac and drove away. Despite accusing the media of getting the story wrong during her time in office, Wood has constantly spoken WRAL Investigates about audits produced by her office.

The crash happened Dec. 8, 2022, but wasn’t publicly reported for weeks. Wood said in her statement she had attended a holiday party prior to the crash. Multiple sources confirmed to WRAL the auditor had attended a party hosted by attorney Rufus Edmisten’s law firm. Edmisten is the former Secretary of State and Attorney General of North Carolina.

Wood faces charges for leaving the scene of the accident and unsafe movement. She’s due in court on March 23.