WTOC, Savannah, Georgia, news, weather and sports | Teacher charged with DWI and hit and run

Teacher charged with DWI and hit and run

HICKORY, NC (WBTV) - A Caldwell County teacher has been charged with driving while impaired and hit and run following an accident in Hickory.

According to the Hickory Police Department, Susan Clark Mackie, 55, a teacher at Granite Falls Elementary School, was arrested on Sunday at 1 a.m.

The police report says Mackie was driving north on 8th Street Drive SE and was attempting to turn left onto the ramp for westbound I-40.  Mackie failed to yield the right of way, the police report states, and struck a car driven by Jeremy Swittenburg. 

Police say Mackie continued getting onto I-40 and didn't stop to check on the other driver.

An eyewitness who saw the accident followed Mackie's car and called the police department.

Officers stopped Mackie's car at the 100 block of 12th Street SW. 

She was arrested for driving while impaired and hit and run.  The police report said Mackie knew she hit the other car, but was unable to explain why she didn't stop. 

Mackie teaches in the Exceptional Children's Program at Granite Falls Elementary School.