CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Newly obtained court documents allege the truck driver accused of hitting and killing Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officer Mia Goodwin wasn't supposed to be driving his trailer in the first place.
Goodwin was hit and killed along Interstate 85 in northeast Charlotte around 3:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 22. Goodwin, a six-year veteran with CMPD, had recently returned to the force following the birth of her third child. Three other officers were taken to the hospital after the crash.
Investigators also accused the driver, 50-year-old Daniel Morgan of High Point, North Carolina, of trying to walk away from the scene after the crash. Court records show that after the crash, Morgan took a device out of the truck to try and hinder the investigation.
Morgan was charged with involuntary manslaughter, misdemeanor death by vehicle, failure to reduce speed and felony failure to move over for stopped emergency vehicles.
State troopers said Morgan's trailer wasn't supposed to be operated yet. They also accuse him of admitting to placing a fictitious tag on it.
WCNC Charlotte asked Morgan's attorney to comment on the latest allegations. He issued the following statement:
"There is a time for all things. This is a time to mourn, reflect and pay tribute to Officer Goodwin’s life. There are no words that can express the extent of Mr. Morgan’s sorrow."
Contact Brandon Golder at bgoldner@wcnc.com and follow him on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
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