Associated Press, Bee Staff
A Sacramento physician will be arraigned next month in Sutter County Superior Court accused of causing injuries in a drunken driving crash while heading to work on a day he had five procedures scheduled.
The state also is trying to suspend his license to practice medicine.
Charles Igwegbe (left) will be arraigned on two felony counts of causing injury by driving under the influence, court records show. He waived a preliminary hearing Wednesday.
Igwegbe's nurse testified at a California Medical Board hearing in July that the gastroenterologist was scheduled to perform five procedures at his Yuba City office May 25, the Associated Press reported.
Authorities say Igwegbe hit a car, causing injuries to its driver that a lawsuit said would result in "some permanent disability," the AP reported.
The board is seeking to suspend Igwegbe's license.
According to the CHP at the time of Igwegbe's arrest, a Honda Accord driven by Igwegbe, 48, a Sacramento resident with a medical practice in Yuba City, was traveling north on Highway 99 north of Riego Road about 8:25 a.m. May 25. Several citizens reported that the vehicle was swerving between the northbound lanes.
Igwegbe's vehicle crossed a dirt center divider, broadsiding a Nissan Altima driven by a 30-year-old Olivehurst woman, who was headed south on Highway 99, a CHP news release said.
Several citizens and an off-duty CHP officer witnessed the collision and stopped to render aid.
CHP officials said an investigation determined Igwegbe had consumed alcohol. According to the release, Igwegbe was uncooperative and resisted a CHP officer and the off-duty officer.
Igwegbe reportedly stated that he was a doctor and was en route to Rideout Memorial Hospital to perform several surgical procedures.
Phone messages left with Igwegbe's attorney were not immediately returned.
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