Michael Waltrip Charged After Vehicle Accident

[doh]

http://www.wsoctv.com/news/11607175/detail.html

NASCAR Driver Charged After Crash In Catawba County; Waltrip Hopes It's A Lesson For Drivers

POSTED: 5:44 pm EDT April 10, 2007
UPDATED: 6:00 pm EDT April 10, 2007

SHERILL'S FORD, N.C. -- A NASCAR star famous for his moves on the track is now in trouble for a crash off of it.

Michael Waltrip is charged with reckless driving and failure to report an accident after a crash on Molly's Backbone Road in Catawba County.

The Highway Patrol says Waltrip was driving about 70 miles per hour in the 55 mile-per-hour zone when he went off the right side of the road in a curve around 1:50 a.m. Saturday. His car then traveled back across the pavement and off the left side of the roadway, sliding sideways and striking a utility pole as it overturned. The car then rolled over and came to a rest on its side.

Troopers said a witness saw Waltrip crawl out of the vehicle and leave the scene. When a trooper went to his home around 2:30 a.m. no one was there, but when he went back at 8 p.m. he found Waltrip, who admitted he'd fallen asleep at the wheel.

Waltrip, with scratches on his face and some deep cuts on his finger, spoke with Eyewitness News about the crash. He said he was on his way home to Sherill's Ford from Charlotte.

"I was almost home. I relaxed a little bit and ran off the road," he explained. "I woke up with gravel hitting the car and I tried to correct but it was too late.

"I had so many emotions when the car came to a stop. I was sad I wrecked. I was embarrassed I wrecked and thankful I wasn't hurt."

The seasoned driver says he instinctively got out of his car, and then decided to walk home because he often runs the route and was only a mile away.

"I hope this is a lesson to kids and adults that you have to be on your game when driving a vehicle," Waltrip said.

UPDATE: Michael Waltrip was uninjured in a single car accident Friday night near his home in Sherrills Ford, N.C. The 43-year old was returning from Charlotte, N.C. when he fell asleep at the wheel within a mile of his home and ran off the road, striking a telephone pole. “I am really embarrassed about the accident, but I feel fortunate that I wasn’t hurt,” said Waltrip. “For 25 years I have had a great driving record. I consider myself to be a courteous and safe driver on public roads. I never expected to fall asleep behind the wheel of a car.” The North Carolina Highway Patrol ticketed Waltrip for reckless driving (admitting to falling asleep at the wheel) and failure to notify authorities of an accident in a timely manner.

http://www.jayski.com/cupnews.htm

[Old Dood]

Hmmm....was there Alcohol involved? Can't tell the NEXT DAY....Hmmmmm

Funny that he didn't call the police then and be done with it. If alcohol is in his system then I can understand why he would not want to call the police then and there...smells fishy....

[tripowergto]

I wonder if he rolled a free Toyota?

[rsnumber2]

Toyota: Moving forwad.
No, Sideways..
No, Upside down.
Wait, straight up and down.
No. Rolling end over end.
Toyota: Moving into telephone polls.

[likearock00]

Originally Posted by doh

"I hope this is a lesson to kids and adults that you have to be on your game when driving a vehicle," Waltrip said.

Lesson? What lesson? Leave the scene if you wreck? That it's ok to just go home and not report it? What exactly am I supposed to tell my children about this that would help them?

I guess it's a lesson to tell them what NOT to do....

I agree with Old Dood, smells fishy and would not have been good publicity for Toyota and their new NASCAR debut. I bet this was an orchestrated event to prevent embarassment....

[69Firebird400]

I'm dying to know what kind of car he was driving.

His sponsorship by Toyota notwithstanding, I'm glad that he was basically uninjured. Toyota is probably a little annoyed about this, though, after the cheating fiasco at Daytona.

[Co27sskid]

Some 1 tell him he can't be driving off the track like he drives on it..... Crashing into everything!

[Rick 2000]

Lets see the Cops knocks at his door 40 minutes after the accident happens , whit no answer , whit only 1 mile to walk he should have been home
for some time . Mr Waltrip had you been drinking that night ????
</IMG>

[DarkKnight67]

He's doing such a service as a representative of Toyota ... how long will it be before they dump him?

[IROCNROL1]

No real surprise. He's been asleep at the wheel since the beginning of the season. As far as alcohol is concerned, I don't blame him for wanting to forget that he's a laughingstock and embarrassment to the sport. He just needs to get home before drowning his sorrows.

[willin58]

He had to be driving a Toyota, what else would explain him falling asleep behind the wheel? Everyone I know that has one has a similar driving experience

Either that, or he had to get drunk just to get behind the wheel of one, sponsorships not withstanding

[Co27sskid]

Originally Posted by willin58

He had to be driving a Toyota, what else would explain him falling asleep behind the wheel? Everyone I know that has one has a similar driving experience

Either that, or he had to get drunk just to get behind the wheel of one, sponsorships not withstanding

LMAO this gave me a nice laugh thismorning! Thank you. BTW, everything you just said is 100% right on! lol

[dratnol]

I believe he was driving a Land Cruiser.

[Old Dood]

Originally Posted by Rick 2000

Lets see the Cops knocks at his door 40 minutes after the accident happens , whit no answer , whit only 1 mile to walk he should have been
for some time . Mr Waltrip had you been drinking that night ????
</IMG>

In all honesty who here would answer the door if alcohol was the reason? I know in my drinking days I would run and hide and take my lumps later on for lesser charges. (thankfully I never had a DUI or a accident due to drinking) Especially, if all I did was crash my own car. All you have to do is wait until your blood levels were down then come out of hiding. So I cannot judge a guy totally based on that....most people would do the same damn thing. Save their Ass...People with boating and flying licenses can lose their ability to do their jobs if they are caught drinking while driving a car. No matter if they never did while piloting a boat or a plane. Since this guy's career is based on racing I can't blame him for hiding out if that was the case since he didn't hurt anyone else but his own name and pride.

I do think this smells fishy...but, I will not cast stones at this guy for doing something most of us here would do under the same situation.

[bone]

I read that he was driving a Land Cruiser. I am no fan of Michael Waltrip,however,with all the stress he is under, I will give him the benefit of doubt in this situation. I will,however, be surprised if Toyota sticks with him.