Wood apologizes for hit-and-run amid calls for resignation

North Carolina’s State Auditor Beth Wood released a statement Jan. 23 apologizing for a hit-and-run accident in December that resulted in her state-owned vehicle partially sitting atop another parked car.

The accident occurred on Dec. 8 near the intersection of Salisbury and Hargett streets in downtown Raleigh. Wood, a Democrat, was charged on Dec. 12 with a class 2 misdemeanor for hit-and-run, leaving the scene, property damage, and an infraction for unsafe movement. Her first court appearance is scheduled for Jan. 26.

Wood initially referred requests for comment to her attorney, Roger Smith of Tharrington Smith in Raleigh. But on Monday, she issued the following statement to reporters:

“On the evening of December 8, 2022, I attended a holiday gathering in downtown Raleigh. I was at the event for approximately two hours. When I left, I made a sharp right turn and inadvertently hit a parked car. I was shaken by the incident and, when I was unable to move my vehicle, I left the scene. That was a serious mistake and I regret my decision.

The next morning, I notified State Motor Fleet Management that I was involved in an accident and subsequently was cited by police for unsafe movement and for failing to provide my name and other information to the owner of the car or a law enforcement officer.

I sincerely regret my actions and will continue to cooperate with law enforcement. I have served the people of North Carolina as their State Auditor since 2009. I made a mistake in judgment on December 8, but I am committed to continuing to perform my duties with the same energy and determination I am known for.

I apologize to the owner of the car I hit, my staff and all I serve for leaving the scene of the accident. I have learned from this mistake and am fully accepting personal responsibility for my actions.”

Meanwhile, the N.C. Republican Party is calling on Wood to resign, and a billboard has gone up in Youngsville, N.C., making the same demand.

In an interview with WRAL-TV in Raleigh, the owner of the car struck by Wood’s vehicle, Chris Valverde, said he didn’t discover the name of the other driver until Jan. 6.

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

Also on Jan. 23, the Raleigh News & Observer reported that Wood’s spokesperson, Lane Rosen, has resigned. Rosen said his resignation was “already planned” and “unrelated” to the accident, according to the N&O.

Rosen posted a now deleted video on his TikTok account in which he announced he was quitting his job. “Come with me to quit my state government job working as a communications specialist for an elected official who just got charged with a misdemeanor hit-and-run,” Rosen said.

The post Wood apologizes for hit-and-run amid calls for resignation first appeared on Carolina Journal.