Police Believe NCHP Trooper Was Driving Drunk In Buncombe County Crash

Police believe that an off duty North Carolina Highway Patrol trooper was driving under the influence when he ran a red light and collided with a car, resulting in a Franklin man suffering serious personal injuries.

Early on the morning of June 25, Trooper Timothy Scott Stiwinter, of Hendersonville, resigned after the accident at the intersection of Airport Road and Fanning Bridge Road in Buncombe County, according to the NCHP.

Stiwinter was arrested by Asheville Police on charges of DUI and felony hit-and-run.

The driver of the other vehicle, Franklin resident Ronald Schott received transport to Mission Hospital after the accident and as of June 25 was listed in serious condition.

Schott’s wife, Patricia Schott, said that he was traveling home from an out-of-town trip. She said that he does not remember the accident.

Stiwinter’s 2006 Nissan Titan was stopped by Asheville Police Officer Danny Britt shortly after the accident, which occurred shortly before midnight on June 24.

A search warrant filed by Asheville Police Officer A.M. Fowler in order to obtain a blood sample from Stiwinter said that he refused to submit to a breathalyzer test.

According to the search warrant Fowler filed, she detected the odor of alcohol on Stiwinter. According to court papers, she also said that he was unsteady on his feet.