"Stephen's Law" signed into law

NC Gov. Mike Easley on Sunday signed into law a bill that closes a loophole in existing law to make it illegal for drivers and passengers to switch places after a crash and leave the scene except to call for help. The new law was named for University of North Carolina sports reporter Stephen Gates, who was killed in a hit-and-run crash along an Interstate 40 entrance ramp in Hillsborough in October 2003. The driver of the sport utility vehicle that struck Gates switched seats with the passenger, and the passenger drove the vehicle away. (NBC 17)