ASHEBORO, N.C. (AP) - The former CEO of Blue Cross Blue Shield North Carolina was found guilty Tuesday of charges stemming from a car crash on an interstate while his two daughters were in the vehicle.
Patrick Conway was found guilty of driving while impaired and misdemeanor child abuse, news sources reported. Court records show Conway was charged after a June 22 crash on Interstate 85 in Randolph County in which his SUV collided with a tractor-trailer.
Conway’s attorney, Jonathan Megerian, argued that North Carolina child abuse laws aren’t intended to be applied in cases in which children aren’t injured and when the risk of injury is accidental. However, Judge Sarah Neely Lanier ruled Conway guilty on all charges.
Megerian said he will appeal the judge’s verdict.
Conway resigned his position on Sept. 25 amid pressure from North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey to step down. Causey said he’d learned of Conway’s arrest from a news report and accused Blue Cross of trying to conceal what happened.
A statement attributed to the company’s board said that it engaged outside lawyers and other experts to examine the crash immediately after it happened. The board said it asked for Conway’s resignation after more investigative material surfaced.
An investigative report of the accident obtained by WRAL-TV and written by the Archdale police investigating officer said Conway had bloodshot eyes and a strong odor of alcohol at the scene and became “absolutely belligerent” at the police department.
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