3 killed, one injured in overnight 485 crash
near University City
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WBTV) - Three people were killed in a crash on I-485 northbound near University City Blvd. early Sunday morning, Medic says.
The crash took place around 4 a.m. near mile marker 33. The I-485 outer loop was closed for hours due to the crash.
Three people were killed and one person was taken to the hospital according to Medic.
More details will be provided when available.
Five days later another Charlotte News Station picked up the story:
Three people were killed in a wrong-way crash that shut down the outer loop of Interstate 485 Sunday, according to investigators. Troopers charged the man accused of causing the crash with driving while impaired.
The crash happened on I-485 near University City Boulevard, and shut down the outer loop of the interstate from around 3 a.m. Sunday to almost 1 p.m. that day, according to the North Carolina Department of Transportation.
The North Carolina State Highway Patrol said a burgundy Chevrolet Suburban was driving the wrong way on the outer loop when it crashed head-on into a black Nissan Maxima that was driving in the left lane.
Investigators confirmed three people died at the scene and one person was sent to a hospital -- the Suburban’s driver was hospitalized and the passenger inside died. The driver and passenger inside the Maxima also both died.
The passenger in the Suburban was identified as 28-year-old Pedro Manuel Medrano. The driver and passenger inside the Maxima were identified as James Woodson and John Woodson, of Salisbury.
The driver of the Suburban, Richard Brent Dunn, 33, was taken to the hospital in critical condition. He was charged with driving while impaired, troopers said.
Local theater, arts community remember twin brothers killed in crash.
Loved ones are clinging onto the legacy left behind by the Woodson brothers, who were well-known members of the local theater and dance community.
A family friend described James and John as a force to be reckoned with.
“You think of this really bright light and these fun, and hilarious, and comical duo,” Tod Kubo said.
Kubo said he mentored the twins through their love of the arts, including acting, dancing and anything on stage.
The twins also found another love in skating, eventually mentoring kids themselves and bringing them off the streets and into the arts.
“They loved completely, unconditionally and openly,” Kubo said.
He said their passion for the arts started more than a decade ago at the Piedmont Players Theater in Salisbury, where the marquee sign now memorializes them. He said they leave a massive void for everyone who knew them.
“It’s heart-wrenching,” he said. “I was so excited to see what they were going to do with the rest of their lives. It’s hard to say anything more than that. It’s a massive chapter that was cut so short.”
Kubo said he’s learning to live without the Woodsons and live more like them -- with kindness, compassion and humor.
“The spirit of John and James Woodson lives on in everyone that was lucky enough to know them,” he said.
The family of the Woodson brothers said they are finalizing funeral arrangements.
Cedar's Take:
Have you ever noticed how slow the response to crime is from Charlotte's Media Sources?
My guess is the late night crime beat is too dangerous to cover and they've all decided to wait until daylight before that get to work. There are few if any on scene reporters.
The Woodson brothers did not need to die. These extremely talented kids had their lives cut short by the government authorities that are supposed to protect us.
Vi Lyles, CMPD, the North State Highway Patrol, Roy Cooper, Spencer Merriweather and others have allowed 485 to become a death trap of wanton disregard for traffic laws and common sense.
The number of fatal accidents, and near fatal accidents are stunning. Just this morning another "wrong way" driver had an accident on 485 in Matthews. The 3rd such accident in a week.
I personally have not once traveled 485 late at night in the last year, when I've not encountered at least a one group of "street racers" driving in an extremely reckless manner and well in excess of 100 miles per hour.
Even midday this past week I watched a sport bike lane splitting traffic that was moving well above the speed limit. Two Dodge Chargers in a match race between I-77 and Wilkinson Blvd and a car with at least 8 teenagers lane filtering only to lose control and run off the pavement and spin out while trying to avoid rear-ending a tractor trailer.
The number of SHP units in Charlotte covering the interstates is as near zero as it could get. When they are on 485 its only to write up an accident report. This is nuts and had NC SHP and CMPD done their jobs these talented brothers would still be entertaining us all. The joy that has been lost by this senseless tragedy is unmeasurable.
CP
13 comments:
Bingo. I drove 485 regularly and there is an asshole driving 100+ almost every time. I also saw a motorcycle butthead racing between stopped cars. Very dangerous. I often call 911 just to alert the cops they will need to send ambulances and the coroner to collect the bodies. Where are the cops???? I guess kicking in doors of conservatives?
Police are all out patrolling high value assets like Sheriff Fancy Suit's estate, or escorting Mayor Vi to another afternoon tea.
Or serving warrants to Braxton's nasty, coal-burning side piece.
What happened to DWI checkpoints? Catch those mf's before they speed the wrong way down an interstate.
Charlotte used to take the lead from the newspaper. Now, The Observer has maybe 12 employees. 10 of whom just graduated in the last year. All 10 looking to jump to a better gig.
TV has barely that many working when you discount the eye candy on the screen.
Question: Are the MCSO still doing hourly drive-bys at all hours when wrong-way drivers are killing people weekly on 485?
I don’t care what your title is around here. We have 300 openings and standards. You can be anything around here if you have a pulse.
1:58, nobody is criticizing the cops who are there and working. At least not the local cops. But where is nC highway patrol?
I have admiration and losers of empathy for local police. Back the blue! But not FBI thugs…
So it’s cool for us to blaze up now?
I saw a NCHP officer running radar on 77 south near Westinghouse a week or so ago. It was such an odd sight, because it was the first time I had seen anyone running radar on the Charlotte highways since at least before Covid.
Of course, 11am isn't exactly the prime time for enforcement, but anything helps.
CMPD guys trying but way undermanned - I know you don't want to hear it but "up north" in Stoneham just outside of Boston we had plenty of cops. Boston too. Most are lifers, even 3rd and 4th generation and at least it seemed like they had twice the number of cops as Charlotte. Very visible. Charlotte def need more cops like 800 more.
Made the mistake and moved here in 2018 took a nice apartment in Steele Creek and realized quickly it was better known at "Da Creek" by the home boyz. Might as well have been Compton or Crenshaw in in South LA. Most the residents were on some sort of "assistance" Had my "masshole" tag stolen the first week. Got a NC tag and it was stolen the fourth week. Put the new one on with hex driver screws and solved that problem. Even though my apartment was on the second floor I could not have anything delivered the neighborhood low life would steal it. Month 9 there was a homicide in the parking lot and that was enough for me. Bought a nice house near York and while the commute is about 30 mins I sleep better at night.
916, CMPD hired 100s of shitty people since 2006 and they don’t do anything. This created a downward spiral and things got worse. They plant the seeds and have to deal with these weeds.
Speaking of weed..can we smoke up now?
Just saw where Woke Sheriff McMuffin won't allow deputies to pull over anyone for a non-moving violation ie expired tag, missing tag, revoked or suspended DL or inspection violation or lack of insurance. How fun is that? Broken windows policing would not allow that BS.
Sheriff Shiny Suit has more dead bodies on his watch than anyone else in command. How is letting the herd drive without tags or insurance help anything except increase hit and runs?
@529
Surely your joking, no way deputies aren't pulling for non moving violations...
Cedar is right not one of the local media operations reported on these cases.
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