‘Impaired’ driver hit squad car, drove off like nothing happened, NC sheriff says

A deputy arriving at a crash scene was himself involved in a crash when a passing driver slammed into his patrol car, then drove away, according to investigators in North Carolina.

It happened around 4:45 p.m. Monday at 2022 W. Lawyers Rd in Indian Trail, and the deputy was not seriously injured, the Union County Sheriff’s Office reported in a March 31 news release. Union County is southeast of Charlotte.

“One of our deputies was responding to a vehicle crash off Lawyers Road. As he arrived on scene and began pulling into a driveway with his blue lights activated, a red Nissan Versa crested the hill and did not slow down, ultimately striking the patrol vehicle on the rear passenger side,” the sheriff’s office said.

“The vehicle did not stop and continued down the roadway. The deputy was able to catch up to the vehicle approximately half a mile away and conducted a traffic stop.”

The driver, Noel Catarino Velasqueaz, exhibited “clear signs of impairment” and explained “he had the green light” when he collided with the patrol car, officials said.

“That might have helped if there had been a traffic signal anywhere nearby. Unfortunately for Noel, there wasn’t,” the sheriff’s office said.

Noel was arrested and charged with hit-and-run with property damage, driving while impaired, driving with no liability insurance, and driving with an open container of alcohol, officials said.

A $15,000 secured bond was issued, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement placed a detainer on Velasqueaz for being in the country illegally, officials said.

This story was originally published April 1, 2026 at 5:53 AM with the headline "‘Impaired’ driver hit squad car, drove off like nothing happened, NC sheriff says."