Local

Man hit by suspected drunk driver describes crash

SALISBURY, N.C. — A man hit by a suspected drunk driver talked to Eyewitness News Tuesday night hours after leaving the hospital.
 
Troopers said a suspected drunk driver crossed the center line on St. Paul Church Road causing the crash.
 
Chris Brown detailed every second that he can remember about that terrifying crash and why he believes it could happen to someone else.

"When the truck was on fire, that's where it burned me there," Brown said.
 
Doctors said he will have a long recovery.

"They said it'd be up to a year before I'd be able to do anything normal," he said.
 
Brown said he was heading home from bowling with his brother Saturday afternoon in Salisbury when he saw a truck headed right for them.
 
"We ended up off into the ditch, and the first thing I said after that, was I asked if my brother was OK and then I realized that I was pinned," he said.
 
Brown remembers being stuck in this wreckage and troopers said Mark Carter was driving drunk when he crossed the center line.
 
Crews had to use the Jaws of Life to rescue him.
 
Investigators later revealed Carter should have never been behind the wheel on weekends because troopers said his license was suspended due to a prior DWI conviction.

"It makes me very angry to start with, but then also, makes me think there should be a lot harsher punishments for DUIs," he said.
 
Brown had to undergo emergency surgery on his hip and now he is worried about being out of work and supporting his family.
 
"Now, they have to be the ones to help me and I've always been the one to help them. Now I can't do that because of this guy," he said.
 
Carter remains in the hospital Tuesday night.
 
Investigators said the state may seize his truck because it marks his second DWI offense.
 
Troopers also said he faces jail time and his license could be suspended for an additional four years.