GASTON COUNTY, N.C. -- For the second time in a month, a Gaston County social worker has been fired for drinking and driving.
The dismissal came just weeks after a different social worker was accused of driving under the influence with a child in the car.
Aaron McSwain said he cannot forget Amanda Carrigan, the woman he said weaved in and out of traffic on busy Union Road.
He said after Carrigan rear ended his SUV two weeks ago she tried to drive away from the accident. “She started backing up. That's when I put myself behind her vehicle to keep her from leaving the scene,” he said.
Carrigan is the second off duty Gaston County DSS worker charged with DWI in the past month. Yvette Smithen blew a 0.22 with her 4-year-old child in the car.
The dismissal came just weeks after a different social worker was accused of driving under the influence with a child in the car.
Aaron McSwain said he cannot forget Amanda Carrigan, the woman he said weaved in and out of traffic on busy Union Road.
He said after Carrigan rear ended his SUV two weeks ago she tried to drive away from the accident. “She started backing up. That's when I put myself behind her vehicle to keep her from leaving the scene,” he said. He said she appeared drunk.
When police arrived, she blew a 0.19, more than twice the legal limit.
McSwain later learned she was a DSS worker. “I was actually shocked,” he said.
Both women were fired.
County Commissioner and DSS Board Vice Chairman Tom Keigher said the department’s staff is large and sometimes there are issues that arise. “When you deal with a county employee number of 1,500 you are going to have problems,” he said.
County Commissioner and DSS Board Vice Chairman Tom Keigher said the department’s staff is large and sometimes there are issues that arise. Carrigan said in a phone interview she has no memory of driving under the influence or of the accident. She said she had a mix of prescription sleeping pills and cough syrup the night before.
Carrigan has hired an attorney to help her get her job back.Previous Stories:
- October 14, 2011: Major holes found in DSS hiring process after employee arrested for DUI
- October 14, 2011: Former Gaston DSS worker granted court attorney
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