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Family Mourns Teen Killed In I-485 Accident

Posted: 5:21 am EST November 18, 2005

A teenager was killed during a head-on collision Friday morning when police say a drunken man plowed into him while going the wrong way on Interstate 485, according to police.

Police say UNCC student Min Soon Chang died instantly when he was hit by 35-year-old Jorge Hernandez. Just before 12:30 a.m. Friday, calls poured into the 911 center.

Police said Hernandez could have gotten on going the wrong way as early as Providence Road -- 20 miles from Rocky River Road exit 36, where he crashed. Police said Hernandez's Ford Expedition slammed into Min Soon Chang's Nissan and caught fire 70 yards from the initial impact.

The state highway patrol and Mint Hill police tried to pace Hernandez from the northbound lane -- frantically signaling him to pull over before he killed somebody.

Police said the vehicle Hernandez was driving didn't belong to him and he didn't have a driver's license.

Chang died instantly upon impact. Hernandez is in stable condition.

Three cars were involved, and authorities said at least one of the cars caught fire.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg police said they had gotten several calls about a motorist going the wrong way on I-485. Police said they were trying to pace the car in the proper lane, get Hernandez to signal and stop him from causing the fatal accident.

"My family is just destroyed right now. They are sad, depressed," said Amos Chang, younger brother of Min Soon.

Min Soon Chang was on his way home from a friend's house at the time. Amos Chang said it all seems very unfair.

"It just made me even more mad when he survived after a crash like that and my brother had to pass away and (Hernandez is) still alive with a broken leg," said Chang.

Min Soon Chang was well-known in Charlotte's Korean community. He volunteered with his church's youth group, graduated from Butler High School just last year and was studying business at UNC Charlotte.

Longtime family friend Elizabeth Cho said Min Soon Chang was always mature beyond his years.

"He always looks out for other people and is concerned for other people. My husband and I were just saying this morning, it is so sad to lose one of those nice young kids because he can do so many things in our future in this world," she said.

A memorial service for Min Soon Chang will be held Monday at McEwen Funeral Home in Mint Hill.

Chang's family said it hopes his tragic death will make everyone think twice about drinking and driving.

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