I-485 Death of a Family

The Saturday morning fatal accident on I-485 in Charlotte is of course tragic but when it claims six lives that is insane. 

Five of the victims were from the same family. They included three kids aged 1, 3 and 8 and two adults. The 16-year-old driver of other vehicle also died.

It happened on I-485 near Wilkinson Boulevard, where multiple agencies were responding to that crash. Mecklenburg County EMS said that the crash happened just before noon and had the interstate shutdown for about five hours.

"We responded to a heartbreaking scene this morning for a fatal traffic accident on I-485, where 6 lives were lost," Mecklenburg EMS said in a statement. "We are still thinking of their loved ones who are now faced with unimaginable grief."

According to news sources, a close friend of the family has started a fundraiser with a goal of $10,000 to support the lone surviving child in the crash, as well as helping to pay for funerals for the multiple family members who passed away in the crash.  

Reports are still preliminary but it seems the Chrysler was traveling I-485 Outer southbound with the family on their way to Carowinds for a summer family adventure.

Just south of the I-85 interchange a Honda CRV drive by a 16 year old moved into the Chrysler's lane of travel and apparently struck the Chrysler causing both vehicles to leave the travel lanes and impact a stationary tractor trailer. The impact destroyed both vehicles killing all but the one passenger instantly.

CP has been endlessly bitching about the TOTAL LACK OF LAW ENFORCEMENT on 485 for the last three years.

Abandoned vehicles sit on the shoulder not for hours but for days. Tractor trailers routinely park on exit and on ramps and even on the shoulder.

It is unknown if speed was a factor in this accident but drivers traveling well over the speed limit is normal, with many routinely driving in excess of 100 miles per hour.

This is not late night hooligans or a street takeover, many of these people are recklessly breaking the law at all hours even mid morning on a Saturday.

There is zero Law Enforcement presence on 485.

It is as if North Carolina Highway Patrol simply does not exist in Gaston or Mecklenburg Counties.

Now this lack of Law Enforcement has killed 6 people. Our governors' hands are covered in the blood of these victims. CMPD and NC SHP are just as guilty.

And to make matters worse no one, not the mayor, the governor, the chief of police, not one of them offered a public message of support to the victim's families or the first responders.

Only MEDIC a non government corporate service provider offered this:

“Our thoughts are with everyone impacted by this horrific incident,” MEDIC said.