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Gastonia Police car hit by suspected impaired driver, police say

The crash happened in the 1300 block of Gaston Avenue.

GASTONIA, N.C. — A suspected impaired driver crashed into a Gastonia Police Department car on Wednesday night, according to police officials. 

The crash happened just before 9:30 p.m. in the 1300 block of Gaston Avenue in Gastonia, police said.

"At this point in time in the investigation, we know the motorist, identified as 32-year-old Jouse Perez of Gastonia, rear-ended the officer in the patrol car," a Gastonia Police Department spokesperson said in a statement. 

Perez now faces a driving while impaired" charge. 

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A photo from the scene shows heavy damage to the police car. 

"The Gastonia Police Department wants to remind everyone this holiday weekend to not drink and drive," the spokesperson said, noting the legal blood-alcohol content limit is 0.08 in North Carolina.

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