Multivehicle Crash on Interstate 485 NTSB Report

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This information is preliminary and subject to change.

​Release date 14 August 2025​

​​On Saturday, July 26, 2025, about 11:03 a.m. eastern daylight time, a 2014 Honda CR-V sport utility vehicle (SUV) was traveling south in the middle lane of the outer loop of Interstate 485 (I-485), approximately 115 feet north of the Dixie River Road overpass (near mile marker 7.0), in Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. 

At the same time, a 2002 Chrysler Town & Country minivan (minivan) was also traveling south in the right lane of I-485 near the SUV. 

The SUV and minivan were both approaching a 2023 Kenworth T680 truck-tractor in combination with a 2019 Wabash National refrigerated van semitrailer (combination vehicle), operated by Leonard’s Express, Inc., that was parked on the right shoulder of I-485. For unknown reasons, the SUV and minivan came into contact (side impact) near the broken white line separating the middle and right lanes. 

Following the impact, the SUV began rotating clockwise and the minivan was redirected to the right. Both vehicles subsequently traveled toward the right shoulder. The SUV collided with the rear and left-rear side of the combination vehicle’s semitrailer. The minivan struck the rear of the semitrailer.

As a result of the crash, the SUV driver, the minivan driver, and four minivan passengers were fatally injured. One passenger in the minivan was seriously injured. The driver of the combination vehicle was uninjured.

​At this location, I-485 is a divided six-lane concrete roadway consisting of three 12-foot-wide travel lanes in each direction of travel; the right edge of I-485 is bordered by an 11-foot-wide concrete shoulder. In the direction of travel for the crash-involved vehicles, I-485 is oriented in a generally southbound direction and had a posted speed limit of 70 mph. At the time of the crash, the weather was clear and the roadway was dry.

Parties to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigation include:

​North Carolina State Highway Patrol

North Carolina Department of Transportation

​All aspects of the crash remain under investigation while the NTSB determines the probable cause, with the intent of issuing safety recommendations to prevent similar events.

Cedar's Take

While the final report is likely months away we can at least assume that the inexperienced driver miss judged the distance between his vehicle and the minivan. The warning "Objects in the mirror was closer than they appear" is a warning few teen drivers understand. 

Sadly the contributing factor was the Kenworth parked on the side of the interstate. Had the tractor and trailer not be on the side of the road there would have been no loss of life and perhaps only minor damage to both vehicles. Had contact between the SUV and Minivan occurred a second later they would not have impacted the disabled vehicle. 

Unfortunately vehicles on the shoulder of our interstates in Mecklenburg County are common and more so along 485. Abandoned vehicles are often left for days. Even has they have been tagged.  Additionally lane marking in this section of 485 are barely visible.