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. 

Six Charlotte Juveniles Rob What They Thought was a Weed Store

Let's be clear you can't sell real weed in North Carolina lawfully, but there's this work around to Gummies and other "Hemp" like products that is totally legal.

The background 

Hemp and marijuana both come from the Cannabis sativa L. plant family. The primary difference is the amount of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) they contain. 

Here's a breakdown of the differences:

1. THC content

• Hemp: Contains 0.3% or less of THC (delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol) on a dry weight basis. This low level of THC means it is non-psychoactive and won't produce the "high" associated with marijuana.
• Marijuana: Contains more than 0.3% of THC. Some strains have 25% THC or more. This higher THC content causes the psychoactive effects. 

2. Legal status

• Hemp: Federally legal in the United States. The 2018 Farm Bill removed it from the Controlled Substances Act's definition of marijuana.
• Marijuana: Remains a Schedule I controlled substance under federal law. Some states have legalized its medicinal or recreational use. 

So Apotheca Dispensaries a franchised brand sells hemp, kratom and mushroom products, and these little thug dumbasses apparently thought it was real weed.

According to CMPD:

On July 30, six juvenile males entered the Cannabis Dispensary at 1501 East Third Street, assaulted an employee and stole merchandise. 

Providence Division officers responded to the scene and obtained witness descriptions and a direction of travel for the suspects. The suspects were observed boarding the light rail train headed in the direction of the Transit Center.  With the assistance of the Real Time Crime Center, Central Division officers, K9 and Professional Police Services, five of the six suspects were quickly apprehended. Officers recovered the stolen merchandise along with an airsoft pistol discarded by the suspects as they fled from the scene. 

The five juvenile suspects were interviewed by Providence Division detectives and were each charged with:

Common Law Robbery

Conspiracy to Commit Common Law Robbery

Resist, Delay, Obstruct

One suspect was transported to the Juvenile Detention Center in reference to an unrelated secure custody order, and four suspects were released into the custody of their guardians. Through continued investigation, the sixth juvenile suspect was identified.

In North Carolina Juveniles are given special treatment. Their identities are hidden, their names are not disclosed and they are nearly always released to the custody of their parents.

These six should have been charged with armed robbery even if the gun was not real. Had the owners been armed they would have every right to eliminate the treat and we would have another sad story to tell.

The problem is charging them with armed robbery makes the crime a class "D" felony and puts it on the violent crimes list. The crimes stats in Charlotte are no more real than the mugshots in this story.

Op-Ed Greenville training accident should be wake up call to all SC police

Cedar's Take:

Over the last few years I've heard many complaints regarding CMPD tactical training or lack thereof, more accurately.

Even talk of guys getting together at paintball parks to work on team ops and tactics.

So common that the "Cedar Nephew" tells of a swatting call in Steele Creek where every one of the responding Officers was a rook and that he had to instruct each of them how to stack up to make a forced entry.

Thankfully the victim of the swatting call emerged on his own before they could execute the entry. The situation resolved without further excitement or drama.

In that arena I offer this Op-Ed regarding the unfortunate July 29th Greenville training incident. 

Keep in mind this Op-Ed is a joint effort by the Post and Courier's editorial board.

(Basically defund never trust the police liberals)

But your thoughtful comments will be formally conveyed to the board later this week.

So what are your thoughts?

From the Post and Courier:

In 2021, cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was fatally shot and director Joel Souza was injured on the set of the movie "Rust" when actor Alec Baldwin picked up a gun, assumed it was loaded with blanks and fired what turned out to be a live round.

It was clear from the start that this was a horrible accident, but then that’s the word we use for a lot of traffic collisions that nonetheless result in criminal charges.

In this case, multiple investigations ensued, by local, state and even federal agencies. Mr. Baldwin was charged with involuntarily manslaughter, the charges were dropped, he was charged again, and this time a judge dismissed the charges because officials had deliberately withheld evidence.

Meantime, an assistant director pleaded no contest to negligent use of a deadly weapon and was sentenced to probation, and the film’s armorer was convicted and sentenced to 18 months in prison for involuntarily manslaughter.

Earlier this month, another accidental shooting occurred when someone fired live rounds that were supposed to be blanks. Only this time it was close to home, and it involved a shooter and supporting cast who are supposed to be trained specifically in how to use weapons properly.

SWAT training is supposed to teach police how to deal with dangerous situations, but it's not supposed to be dangerous, because guns are loaded with blanks. Or at least they're supposed to be.

Fortunately no one died — although one of the two victims shot required surgery and nearly died — when a routine biweekly training session conducted by the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office went horribly awry: A deputy playing the role of a bad guy fired a 12-gauge shotgun that was supposed to be loaded with blanks.

As The Post and Courier’s Seth Taylor reports, a preliminary investigation concluded that multiple breakdowns in safety protocol and ammunition handling led to what we all assume was an accident. Sheriff Hobart Lewis said at a news conference last week that instead of using ammo that was properly marked and stored in the armory, deputies had loaded the weapon with ammo that was stored in an unmarked plastic bag and pulled from a desk drawer; they also failed to properly test the ammo before it was used. That ammo in the bag wasn’t blank but what’s called a breaching round, used to break through windows and doors.

Just let that grotesque carelessness and perhaps laziness sink in.

Now let this sink in: After a week-long, in-house investigation, the sheriff already has declared that no criminal charges will be brought. He is not asking SLED or anyone else to launch an independent investigation — unlike what nearly every law enforcement agency in the state does when one of its officers shoots someone, even when everyone agrees it was an accident.

The sheriff is reviewing the department’s safety protocols and plans to institute changes, but he won’t even seek an outside review of his agency’s policies. Instead, the sheriff said, “We commit to full transparency and to correcting the failures that led to this.”

Clearly, New Mexico has different laws and standards than South Carolina, and the 2021 movie-set shooting was a higher-profile incident, and we all know high-profile incidents get treated differently. But the principles involved are the same: You want to make sure that what everybody believes was an accident really was an accident, and even if it was an accident, you need to consider whether it involved carelessness so serious that it needs to be punished.

None of that is happening here.

We believe the usual route of bringing in SLED to investigate an officer-involved shooting would have been much wiser here — just like we believe state law should require outside investigations whenever police injure or kill innocent or guilty people.

But at this moment, that’s not even our primary concern. Our primary concern is that the Sheriff’s Office could be careless enough to allow two of its deputies to be shot in a routine training exercise. Our concern is that an agency that sends its deputies out there every day with loaded guns to handle dangerous situations is not careful enough to keep them safe when no bad guys are around, when there are supposed to be no real dangers around.

That is grossly unfair to the deputies, and it raises disturbing questions about just how committed the office is to keeping the public safe when its deputies are not in what’s supposed to be a safe environment.

This should be a wake-up call not only for the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office but for every police agency in our state. This should be a moment when every sheriff’s office and police department in South Carolina pauses to do a thorough assessment of its safety protocols, to ensure that they are sufficient to protect our police from careless errors — and to protect the public as well.

Back To School Event Brings, Kids, Parents, then Gunfire and Panic

Local Media is reporting that no injuries were reported after a shooting outside of a back-to-school event in west Charlotte.

The incident occurred at the C.W. Williams Community Health Center’s main campus on Wilkinson Boulevard on Saturday afternoon.

The event was the 11th annual back-to-school community health fair that featured a dozen elected officials, such as U.S. Congresswoman Alma Adams and several Charlotte and Mecklenburg County leaders.

Rep. Adams shared this statement regarding Saturday’s incident,

"For 11 years, C.W. Williams Community Health Center has hosted this incredible event, providing healthcare and school supplies to our families and children ahead of the new school year. They have been a longtime pillar in Charlotte, especially for our underserved communities, and I want to thank them for hosting today’s event and for all the work they do.”

“I’m grateful that no one was injured at C.W. Williams’ Back to School Community Health Fair after the reported shooting and I want to thank the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department for their quick response to the incident."

CP believes that based on court documents that the shooter Cherez Monique Davis dob 7/12/1991 was arrested and charged with GOING ARMED TO THE TERROR OF THE PEOPLE and CARRYING CONCEALED WEAPON - GUN 

Cherez Monique Davis Photo Courtesy MCSO

Both charges are misdemeanors. CMPD has refused to id the shooter or spell out the charges.

CMPD:

On or about the date of offense shown and in the county named above the defendant unlawfully and willfully did CARRY AN UNUSUAL AND DANGEROUS WEAPON, BLACK HANDGUN IN PLAIN VIEW, WITH THE INTENT TO INTIMIDATE OR FRIGHTEN THE PUBLIC. THE BLACK HANDGUN CAUSED TERROR TO OVER 200 PEOPLE, TO WIT: PANICKING AND RUNNING IN ALL DIRECTIONS ONCE THE BLACK HANDGUN WAS VIEWED AND SHOT.

On or about the date of offense shown and in the county named above the defendant unlawfully and willfully did carry concealed about the defendant's person while off the defendant's own premises a gun, a BLACK HANDGUN

Davis was released just before midnight on a secured bond. No word if additional charges are pending. Given Charlotte's liberal courts and DA it is doubtful. 

CMPD Update:

On Saturday, August 9, 2025 at 1308 hrs. Officers responded to shots fired call for service at a large gathering with 100 people for public community school event. 

Officers were given a description of the shooter as black female with braids, black shirt, jeans and crocs. Officers located a subject matching the description and detained her. The defendant Cherez Davis

stated that there was an argument with her son and another boy. Davis stated that another adult then got involved so she reached into her backpack and pulled out her Taurus G6 Serial #ACM609865. 

Davis stated she fired two shots into the air to try to break up the fight. After firing the shots, the crowd dispersed and started to run away in panic. 

Davis put her firearm back in the backpack and started walking away. The firearm was later retrieved and collected as evidence.

Cedar Update Monday 6:15 pm

Apparently Meck County Judge Matt Newton heard the public outcry and raised Cherez Monique Davis' bond to $200,000 late Monday afternoon at 5:15 then 7 mins later made it $250,000.

Inmate Status Courtesy MCSO

Not on any authority but normally the fastest way to get your bond revoked or increased is with a public outburst in the courtroom.

Now with the substantially higher bond Davis remains behind bars at the Mecklenburg County Detention Center.

Court records now show that Judge Newton ordered Davis held on $250,000 secured then signed an order for $200,000 than 7 mins later signed the corrected order for a secured bond of $250,000.

Additionally Davis is now also charged with discharging a firearm inside the city limits, also a misdemeanor. 

As of August 18, 2025, Davis remained jailed and her trial date set for December 9, 2025.

Machete Charloot Style!

Matthew King apparently decided that he'd had enough of Jeff Vangordon and Kurt Casey and went after both with an 18" machete.

CMPD:

On or about the date of offense shown and in the county named above the defendant (Matthew Terry King) unlawfully, willfully, and feloniously did with malice aforethought attempt to kill and murder KURT LEE CASEY

On or about the date of offense shown and in the county named above the defendant unlawfully, willfully, and feloniously did assault KURT LEE CASEY with 18 INCH MACHETE STYLE BLADE deadly weapon, with the intent to kill and inflicting serious injury.

On or about the date of offense shown and in the county named above the defendant unlawfully and willfully did assault JEFFREY VANGORDON with deadly weapon, 18 INCH MACHETE STYLE BLADE by CUTTING VICTIM WITH BLADE CAUSING MINOR LACERATION TO RIGHT THIGH

Matthew Terry King Photo Courtesy MCSO

Both men survived the attack.

In additional to being charged with attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon, King is also being held on a 2020 DWI that he apparently failed to appear on. 

Isador "Machete" Cortez aka Matthew King is currently being held at the Mecklenburg County Detention Center without bail.

This isn't King's first rodeo he was reportedly convicted on a Level 5 DWI Charge back in 2005. Which might be why he skipped the trial for the 2020 DWI arrest. 

Unsecured bond on a guy with priors in 2020? Did they really think he'd show up? What are they thinking?

CMPD Update

On 08/09/25, at approximately 0200 hrs, CMPD officers responded to 300 Brevard St in reference to an assault with deadly weapon call for service. 

Upon arrival, officers located the listed victim, Kurt Lee Casey, outside of the business with an apparent major laceration on his left hand. 

Officers located the listed defendant, Matthew King, outside of the business whose clothes were covered in blood. A large machete style blade and pair of brass knuckles were on the table next to King. 

Casey stated that he was at the bar and verbal altercation began between he, King, and other witnesses. 

The altercation became physical and King was removed from the business by employees. 

Approximately 30 minutes later, King returned to the bar armed with pair of brass knuckles and large machete style blade approximately 18 inches in length. 

King approached Casey from behind and stated "remember me?", attempted to strike Casey in the head with the brass knuckles, then swung the machete from overhead towards Casey's head. 

Casey stated he put his left hand up to block the machete and his hand was cut by the machete causing large laceration. 

Casey and other witnesses disarmed King and took him to the ground. Casey was transported to the hospital to be treated for his injuries which required surgery. 

Officers also spoke to the other listed victim, Jeffrey Vangordon, who stated he suffered minor laceration to his right thigh as he, Casey, and others were disarming King. 

Multipte witnesses remained on scene and provided written statements to officers which corroborated the victims' stories. 

King was placed under arrest at 0217 hrs and transported to the hospital for minor injuries he sustained during the physical altercation. 

King is charged with Attempted First Degree Murder (F), Assault With Deadly Weapon with Intent to Kill Inflicting Serious Injury (F), and Assault With Deadly Weapon (M).

Mr. King remains behind bars as of August 11, 2025.

Uptown "Ferals" Free to Roam and Terrorize

Lexton Williams is one of dozens of Uptown Ferals that are allowed to roam the streets and terrorize citizens.

Williams is the subject of about one arrest each month and is held each time ranging from a few hours to eight months.

Mr. Williams is the reason for Uptown Charlotte's decline and the closing of dozens of businesses and the loss of millions. 

As long as the dozens of "ferals" like Mr. Williams are allowed to run loose Uptown the decline will continue and accelerate.

Just one of Mr. William's arrests:

On Thursday, June 26,, 2025. at approximately 1950hrs., the defendant, Lexton Williams (Williams) was observed on camera taking black leather purse valued at $35. The purse also contained $4,000 in cash. 

This incident occurred at 210 E. Trade St. The purse and its contents belonged to the victim (name redacted). Victim stated that she left her purse and its contents on table outside of the restaurant "Kitchen and Kocktails". 

Victim stated that she stepped away from the purse and whenever she returned the purse was no longer where she left it. Security footage shows Williams pick up the purse and walk away from the scene with it

The charges were dismissed a few weeks later.

Williams gives his address as 945 N College Street Charlotte, NC meaning he's homeless.

Despite 36 arrests 8 just since the start of this year Williams has only 3 convictions none that resulted in an active prison sentence.

He's currently on 18 months probation for a June 2025 Attempted B&E conviction.

Some have taken issue with my use of "Feral" to describe Mr. Williams.

 "Feral person" generally refers to someone, usually an adult, who has become or remained untamed, uncivilized, or unsocialized, often due to lack of early childhood socialization or a prolonged period living in isolation from human society. It can describe someone who has reverted to a wilder, more animalistic state, or someone who has never acquired the typical social graces and behaviors expected in human society. 

Seriously how else would you describe Mr. Williams?

They Walk Among Us - Phillipe Jones

They walk among us violent killers and rapists. They are free to roam our streets and continue to commit crimes because in Mecklenburg County the justice system is broken and no one is safe.

Phillepe Jones Photo Courtesy MCSO

The case of Phillepe (Phillip) Antone Jones.

Jones is a northern transplant. It is unknown how long Jones has lived in Mecklenburg County or why Jones relocated to Charlotte, but his past is deeply troubling.

Jones has been known to use the aliases Philip Jones, Marc Jones, Jimmy Jones, Marcus Toler, and others.

In 2003 Jones was arrested for the murder of a New Castle Delaware man.

After being charged with First Degree Murder, Jones pled guilty to Second Degree Murder on February 5, 2004, and he was sentenced for that crime on April 2, 2004 to eighteen years of incarceration.  

Records show the filing of 3 appeals asking for a reduction of sentence, all where denied. Had Jones served the full term of his sentence he would have been released no later than 2022.

On June 11, 2024 Jones was involved in a violent altercation in Charlotte, which led to a warrant for his arrest being issued on June 12, 2024 but not served until August 14, 2024.

Photo Courtesy MCSO

On August 26, 2024 a Mecklenburg County Grand Jury indicted Jones on the following charges:

1. AWDW SERIOUS INJURY (1346)

2. POSSESSION OF FIREARM BY FELON (5224)

3. ROBBERY WITH DANGEROUS WEAPON (1222)

4. AWDWIKISI (1348)

5. COMMUNICATING THREATS (5328)

6. INJURY TO PERSONAL PROPERTY (2912)

Jones remained in the custody of the MCSO until February 13, 2025. When he was released under a $50,000.00 bond.

On July 17, 2025 Jones filed a motion to modify the terms of his pretrial release including electronic monitoring. 

Then for some reason decided that the 6 pm to 6 am curfew was just too much to endure.

On August 3, 2025 an order for Jone's arrest was issued for violation of the terms of his pretrial release and he was promptly located at 1714 Oaklawn Avenue Charlotte, NC 28216 and arrested by CMPD Officers. 

Records show he was processed into the Mecklenburg County Detention Center just before midnight on Sunday August 3, 2025.

Early Monday morning his bond was raised to $100,000.00.

He remains behind bars at this time.

June 11, 2024 Incident Report.

On 06/11/2024, Officers responded to an ADW call for service at the 2700 Block of (redacted) Ave. On scene officers located a shell casing, blood drops, shoes, and money.

The reporting party, "RH", had left the scene for her safety. Officers met with her, and she advised that she had picked up "S" from the university area and drove him to her residence on St (redacted) and left the scene. 

She advised when they were exiting the vehicle, her ex-boyfriend Phillipe Jones approached and pulled out a firearm and pointed it at "S". "S" started running and Jones chased him she heard two gunshots and left the scene.

Shortly after leaving the area, she got phone call from "S" phone, Jones had his phone and said "You fucked up, now he's dead".

While officers were speaking to her, Jones called again and said "You're lucky didn't shoot you" and then said he would kill "A M" and her baby. Officers on the scene were unable to locate "S".

On scene officers located an unoccupied vehicle that was shot into. The vehicle was 2020 Nissan Altima belonging to "L T".

Detectives made an exigent request to track the victims and suspect phones. Detectives located the vehicle Jones left in, gold 2003 Gold Honda Accord on Farm Pond Lane. A search warrant was obtained, and multiple IDs belonging to Jones and magazine containing 9mm ammunition were located in the vehicle. This matched the shell casing that was located on the scene.

Through the investigation, Detectives were able to identify the Victim as "S" and get in contact with him.

"S" told detectives he went to (redacted) St with "H" and her ex-boyfriend was calling her and yelling over the phone. When they got

to (redacted) St he got out of the car and "H" yelled at him to get back in because her ex-boyfriend was there. 

Before he could get back in the car, Jones put a gun to "C's" head.

Jones pistol-whipped him and told him to empty his pockets "C" gave Jones his phone and money and took off running, he heard Jones say he better not run and he would "splatter his shit". 

While CH was running he heard gunshots and he fell while he was running. 

"CH" ran to a nearby family member's house and went to Atrium University. He had injuries to his face near his eye which caused him to get stitches, his hand was broken in three places and he had cuts and scrapes all over his body.

Based on this, Jones is being charged with Armed Robbery, ADWIK ADWISI' Communicating threats, damage toproperty, and possession of firearm by convicted felon.

On 06/12/2003, Jones was arrested by Wilmington (Delaware) PD for First Degree Murder, a Class A felony. The maximum sentence for this charge is death or life without parole. On 02/05/2004 Jones was found Guilty of Second-Degree Murder which is class B felony punishable by 144 months to life in prison. 

He was convicted by the New Castile Superior Court in Delaware. It is unknown what his actual sentence was.

Reason(s) for revocation of bond - electronic monitoring violations.

That on July 8, 2025, the defendant violated their conditions of release by violating their court-ordered curfew of 6 pm to 6 am. 

That on July 14, 2025, the defendant violated their conditions of release by violating their court-ordered curfew of 6 pm to 6 am. 

That on July 17, 2025, the defendant violated their conditions of release by violating their court-ordered curfew of 6 pm to 6 am. 

That on July 25, 2025, the defendant violated their conditions of release by violating their court-ordered curfew of 6 pm to 6 am. 

That on July 26, 2025, the defendant violated their conditions of release by violating their court-ordered curfew of 6 pm to 6 am. 

That on July 27, 2025, the defendant violated their conditions of release by violating their court-ordered curfew of 6 pm to 6 am. 

That on July 28, 2025, the defendant violated their conditions of release by violating their court-ordered curfew of 6 pm to 6 am. 

That on July 31, 2025, the defendant violated their conditions of release by violating their court-ordered curfew of 6 pm to 6 am. 

That on August 2, 2025, the defendant violated their conditions of release by violating their court-ordered curfew of 6 pm to 6 am. 

Court documents detail 9 dates within the last month that Jones violated the terms of his pretrial release.

Cedar's Take:

As you can see CMPD and Mecklenburg DA are clueless and for some reason don't have access to out of state prior convictions. 

A simple search via google shows Delaware arrests and convictions as well as the most recent appeal in Delaware which also details his 18 year prison sentence for murder.

Finally, Jones should not have been given a reduced bail given his prior murder conviction. But either the ADA didn't bother to tell the judge or the judge didn't care.

This guy should not be walking Charlotte's streets.

Details on Jones' prior appeal of sentence.

https://law.justia.com/cases/delaware/superior-court/2007/96780-1.html