Driver arrested, charged after crash with CMPD officers

Danielle Ferguson, Morgan Fogarty,

UPDATE:

CHARLOTTE, NC – The driver involved in a crash with CMPD police officers has been charged.

The crash happened during the evening rush hour on Wednesday.

Officials say 36-year-old Thomas Royster was driving a Buick Regal inbound on Independence Boulevard near Bojangles Coliseum when he went over the yellow line and crashed into a CMPD cruiser heading outbound.

Police say two officers inside the car were taken to the hospital with non life-threatening injuries. A third officer got hurt while responding to the crash and was also taken to the hospital.

All three officers are expected to be okay.

Police say the driver of the Buick, Thomas Royster, was driving with a suspended license for a prior DWI and appeared to be intoxicated at the time of the crash.

Royster was taken to the hospital and later transferred to the Mecklenburg County jail.

Royster faces several charges, including felony serious injury and driving while license revoked for a prior DWI.

He was issued citations for open container, reckless driving, unsafe movement, HOV lane violation, seatbelt violation and driving left of center.

ORIGINAL STORY (POSTED 7/23/25):

CHARLOTTE, NC — A serious crash involving a CMPD SUV cruiser has shut down lanes on a major east Charlotte highway.

The accident happened on Independence Boulevard near Briar Creek Road. The crash happened before 6 p.m.

A red sedan and a CMPD SUV both appeared to have significant heavy front end damage.

Medic says one person was hospitalized with non life-threatening injuries.

This is a developing story.