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Impairment suspected in crash that killed pedestrian in southwest Charlotte

The suspect called 911 to report the crash after driving onto Interstate 77 where he was arrested, CMPD said.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A man was arrested after police said he admitted to hitting and killing a woman in southwest Charlotte around midnight Saturday night, police said. 

Charlotte-Mecklenburg police responded to a crash involving a pedestrian along South Tryon Street near Yorkshire Drive just after midnight on Sunday, Feb. 11. When officers arrived, they found 24-year-old Cyndee Taylor Dutton suffering from serious injuries after she was hit by a vehicle. Dutton was taken to a hospital by Medic where she died from her injuries. 

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While officers were investigating this crash, the driver of the vehicle that hit Dutton called 911 to report that he hit a pedestrian on South Tryon Street. The driver, identified as Michael Anthony Putnam, was stopped along Interstate 77 near Clanton Road when he called 911, according to CMPD. Officers responded to the call and found Putnam with a Chevrolet Equinox that had extensive damage to the front end. 

CMPD alleges that Putnam was impaired and that his impairment contributed to the crash. Putnam was arrested at the scene and charged with felony death by motor vehicle. He was then taken to the Mecklenburg County jail for processing. 

The investigation remains active and ongoing. Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call Charlotte Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600. Witnesses may also call Detective Worthy at 704-432-2169, extension 4. 

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