CHARLOTTE, N.C.– Police say a man has died after being hit by an alleged drunk driver while he was walking across the street in east Charlotte.
Police responded to the accident at 12 a.m. on March 8th on The Plaza Road near E Sugar Creek Road.
Officers say upon arrival they witnessed a vehicle with damages to the hood and windshield as well as an unresponsive pedestrian lying in the middle of the roadway. Police identified the unresponsive man as 22-year-old Brandon Sorto. He was transported to the hospital with life-threatening injuries where he later died.
The driver of the vehicle was identified as 34-year-old Sherrod Pauley. Police say Pauley was not injured during the crash.
Investigators say Sorto was walking in the crosswalk on The Plaza Road with dark clothes on and he did not have the green light to cross, according to police.
Officers say Pauley drove through the green light in the right lane where he struck Sorto. According to police, Pauley was arrested after investigators say they determined he was driving impaired, although speed was not a factor in the crash. Police are asking any witnesses to contact Detective Mercedes at 704-432-2169 or call Crimestoppers at 704-334-1600.
