Authorities in Union County, North Carolina, arrested a driver after a deputy responding to a crash was struck by a passing vehicle that fled the scene, according to officials.

The incident occurred around 4:45 p.m. Monday at 2022 W. Lawyers Road in Indian Trail, a community located southeast of Charlotte.

The Union County Sheriff’s Office detailed the sequence of events in a March 31 news release, stating that the deputy had been responding to an earlier vehicle crash when the second collision took place.

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According to the sheriff’s office, the deputy had arrived on scene and was in the process of pulling into a driveway with emergency lights activated when the incident occurred.

“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.

Officials said the driver did not stop after the collision and continued traveling down the roadway.

The deputy was able to pursue the vehicle and stop it a short distance away.

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“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 sheriff’s office said.

Authorities identified the driver as Noel Catarino Velasqueaz.

Investigators reported that he showed signs of impairment following the crash.

According to officials, Velasqueaz told deputies that “he had the green light” when he struck the patrol vehicle.

The sheriff’s office noted that the claim did not align with the conditions at the scene.

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

Velasqueaz was taken into custody at the scene and charged with multiple offenses.

Authorities said the charges include hit-and-run with property damage, driving while impaired, driving with no liability insurance, and driving with an open container of alcohol.

Officials also confirmed that a $15,000 secured bond was issued in the case.

The deputy involved in the crash was not seriously injured, according to the sheriff’s office. No additional injuries were reported.

Authorities said Immigration and Customs Enforcement placed a detainer on Velasqueaz for being in the country illegally.

The Union County Sheriff’s Office has not released additional details regarding the initial crash that the deputy was responding to when the second incident occurred.

The investigation remains ongoing, according to officials.

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