CMPD: Alcohol likely a factor in deadly 4-car crash in southeast Charlotte

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Police believe alcohol likely played a role in a crash Saturday night that killed one person in southeast Charlotte.

Around 10 p.m., officers responded to a four-vehicle crash in the 7500 block of Idlewild Road. The wreck involved a 2002 Honda Civic, a 2002 Ford Taurus, a 2009 Chevrolet Express Van, and a 2018 Chevrolet Cruz.

Investigators told Channel 9 the Civic was traveling west on Idlewild Road toward Independence Boulevard when the crash happened.

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The Honda was traveling in the left lane approaching Ware Road when it swerved toward the right in an attempt to avoid striking the Taurus, which was stopped in the roadway in front of him, waiting to make a left turn onto Ware Road.

The Civic struck the back-right corner of the Taurus and then continued traveling west on Idlewild Road. As the Civic approached Idlebrook Drive, it crossed over the double yellow line into the path of the van, which was heading east on Idlewild Road, resulting in a head-on collision.

The impact was so violent that the Civic spun back onto the right side of Idlewild Road where it was then struck by the Chevrolet Cruz that was traveling west on Idlewild Road. That Chevy then ran off the right side of the roadway and struck a telephone pole, police said.

The driver of the Civic, 42-year-old Vongsanith Prahongchanh, was taken to Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center where he died. Police said alcohol use is suspected to be a contributing factor in the crash.

The driver and passenger of the Taurus were both taken to Novant Health Matthews Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries. The driver of the Chevrolet Express Van was not hurt, and the driver of the Chevrolet Cruz reported that he received only minor injuries from the crash and was not taken to the hospital.

The crash remains under investigation.

Cox Media Group