Surgeon charged in wrong-way collision that badly injured driver

MORGANTON, N.C. — A surgeon is accused of causing a wrong-way crash last Thursday on Interstate 40 in Morganton that badly injured another driver.

Dr. Lee Turner, 41, whose license is now revoked, is under investigation for driving while impaired.

He told troopers he was on his way home from work at the time of the crash.

An accident report shows the surgeon’s blood alcohol level was more than three times the legal limit.

Turner drove the wrong way in the eastbound lanes before striking a car more than a mile after getting on the interstate, troopers said.

The Highway Patrol said Turner, who works as a surgeon at Carolinas Healthcare in Morganton, kept going for a third of a mile after the impact.

"I noticed signs of impairment during this contact but had to let the paramedics transport Mr. Turner to the hospital,” troopers said in a search warrant. “While at the hospital, I was able to speak with Mr. Turner again briefly and continued to gather evidence of impairment."

The other driver was airlifted to a different hospital with severe internal injuries.

The Highway Patrol said Turner left work around 4:30 p.m. The crash happened six hours later a few miles from the hospital.

Turner was also charged with driving while license revoked, careless and reckless driving, and driving the wrong way on an interstate.

The Highway Patrol said Turner could face additional charges.

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