Police identify woman killed in tractor-trailer crash accused of fleeing traffic stop

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Police are investigating after they said a driver fleeing a traffic stop in Gaston County was killed in a crash involving a tractor-trailer in west Charlotte early Sunday morning.

It happened just after midnight on Wilkinson Boulevard at Parrot Drive, which is right in front of the Amazon facility.

When officers got to the area, they found an Amazon tractor-trailer and a severely damaged 2018 Land Rover Discovery involved in a collision.

The driver of the tractor-trailer was not hurt but the driver of the Land Rover, identified as 37-year-old Katie Lenderman, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police said Lenderman was speeding away from a traffic stop initiated by officers with the Gastonia Police Department. They said she was driving into Mecklenburg County at a high rate of speed, reached the top of a hill near the intersection of Old Dowd Road and drove underneath the tractor-trailer as it was trying to make a U-turn.

After the initial impact, Lenderman was thrown from the vehicle, investigators said. Officers said she was not wearing her seatbelt.

Police shut down the outbound lanes of Wilkinson Boulevard for several hours during the investigation.

No other information has been released.

This is an ongoing investigation. Check back with wsoctv.com for updates.

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