CHARLOTTE (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — Six people were killed in a crash on the Interstate 485 outer loop Saturday morning in west Charlotte, according to Medic. Three were under the age of 10.
State troopers said the wreck was reported around 11:10 a.m. on July 26 between Wilkinson Blvd. and West Boulevard. Medic confirmed this was a serious accident with multiple patients. Six people were pronounced dead at the scene, and one was transported with non-life-threatening injuries.
According to the N.C. State Highway Patrol, a Honda CR-V was traveling on I-485 in the middle lane. The other vehicle involved, a Chrysler van, was in the right lane.
Troopers say the CR-V traveled into the right lane and collided with the van. After impact, both vehicles traveled off the right side of the roadway and collided with a tractor-trailer parked on the shoulder of the highway.
The CR-V was driven by 16-year-old Logan Paul Sauer, of Mooresville. He was its only occupant and was killed. The van had six occupants on board, five of whom were killed. The surviving occupant, a 16-year-old female, was transported to Atrium Main to be treated for injuries.
The deceased occupants from the van were:
Samuel Jacob Holmes, 27 (driver)
Taylor Willis, 23
Brynlon Holmes, 1
Addyson Holmes, 3
Kamron Wood, 8
The operator of the tractor-trailer was not injured in the crash.
NCDOT reported the roadway reopened around 5:30 p.m. Saturday.
The investigation remains ongoing at this time. NCSHP says no charges are expected to be filed.
Meanwhile, Medic also said they responded to another crash on I-485 at I-85 south, where one person was taken to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. This was near the fatal accident, but it was a separate crash, Medic said.
Radio traffic from first responders indicates they worked to pull out multiple victims who were trapped in their cars underneath a tractor-trailer truck.
The sheer number of first responder units called out gives us an idea of the gravity of the response late Saturday morning. And what’s even more horrific are the mangled cars that are barely recognizable with their tops sheared off.
“It’s going to be a gray Honda CR-V and a gray van, gray Honda is smoking, again, both vehicles are under the trailer, nothing further,” said one first responder over the radio.
There was an urgent call to get to the interstate near Exit 9.
“All units respond to 485 outer, mile marker 7, multiple people, there’s going to be two vehicles under a tractor trailer, advising somebody is pinned, possibly a fatality.”
Medic said all six people killed were pronounced dead on scene.
“Come the wrong way on the interstate,” said a first responder to other responders. “The traffic is shut down.”
“Emergency or non-emergency?” asked another first responder. “Emergency traffic until we get all these people cut out,” answered the responder.
First responders make multiple references to people trapped in vehicles.
“We’re still working on extricating your patients. When you come up, bring all your gear up,” said a first responder.
“Our thoughts are with everyone impacted by this horrific incident,” Medic said
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