CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A South Carolina woman is charged with DWI in connection with a fatal crash on I-77 that killed a Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police dispatcher Thursday night.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police says Nicole Shieb was a passenger in a vehicle that was rear-ended on I-77. She was pronounced dead at the scene, leaving behind a 3-year-old son.
Highway Patrol tells NBC Charlotte, Shieb’s brother, CMPD Officer Christopher Shieb, his wife and their 11-year-old daughter were also in the vehicle. Christopher Shieb and his wife were taken to the hospital for treatment and released, but troopers say their 11-year-old daughter remains in critical condition as of Friday evening.
Troopers say the Shieb’s 6-year-old son was also supposed to have been in the car, but decided to stay home.
Trisha Ann Thompson, 36, of McConnells, S.C., was arrested and charged with DWI by NC Highway Patrol. Troopers say other charges may be pending against Thompson. Thompson received a $5,000 bond and was released from jail Friday. A quick scroll through Thompson’s facebook page shows
Thompson as a doting mother to young children.
“This one hits home, but they all do. One is never easier than the other,” says NC Trooper Ray Pierce.
Trooper Pierce says just before 8 p.m. Thursday evening, Thompson was driving south on I-77 near the South Carolina border when she attempted to change lanes and struck Shieb’s vehicle, which in turn caused their vehicle to run off the roadway and collide with a disabled motorist.
Trooper Pierce says a man was in the disabled car, but was treated and released at the scene.
Nichole Shieb started as a telecommunicator with CMPD in July of 2012. Friday, CMPD released a statement asking the community to keep the CMPD family in thoughts and prayers. They said they would release more information including arrangements as soon as they could.
In the meantime, a gofundme has been set-up in Nicole Shieb’s memory.