The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) is investigating a series of fatal crashes that claimed four lives over the weekend. The incidents, which occurred between Friday and Sunday, also left multiple people injured, underscoring the importance of traffic safety in the community.
The most recent crash occurred early Sunday morning at approximately 1:30 a.m. near East W.T. Harris Boulevard and Hickory Grove Road in east Charlotte. Authorities reported that 25-year-old Anthony Ayala was riding a motorcycle at an “extremely high rate of speed” when he collided with a 2012 Ford Fusion making a left turn. Ayala died at the scene, and 14-year-old Roberto Emanuel Ortiz, a passenger in the car, also lost his life. Two others in the vehicle, ages 20 and 10, were hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries, while the driver escaped unharmed.
On Saturday, another fatal crash claimed the life of 31-year-old Damonta Stephane Alexander. CMPD reports that Alexander lost control of his vehicle in the 7400 block of Steele Creek Road, striking a brick sign before overturning. Investigators believe speed was a contributing factor, and Alexander was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash.
The first crash of the weekend occurred Friday in the 6800 block of the Plaza. Thirty-four-year-old Bianca Gebremedhin lost control of her vehicle while driving eastbound and collided with an oncoming van. The driver of the van and a juvenile passenger sustained non-life-threatening injuries, while Gebremedhin, who was not wearing a seatbelt, was pronounced dead at a hospital. Police determined that Gebremedhin failed to maintain her lane, leading to the collision.
CMPD’s Crash Investigation Unit is actively examining the circumstances of all three incidents. Speed and failure to use seatbelts have been identified as significant factors in two of the crashes.
These tragic events have prompted CMPD to remind drivers to prioritize safety by adhering to speed limits, wearing seatbelts, and staying focused while driving.
The series of crashes has left the Charlotte community mourning multiple losses and highlights the need for vigilance on the road to prevent further tragedies. CMPD urges anyone with information about the accidents to contact their offices.