Driver charged after 14-year-old killed in crash in east Charlotte, police say

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Charlotte-Mecklenburg police said the driver of a car has been charged after a 14-year-old was killed in an east Charlotte crash Saturday evening.

The crash happened around 4 p.m. near Idlewild Road and Drifter Drive.

Officers said four people were in the car and they were all taken to a local hospital by MEDIC. One of the passengers, Anahy Amancecatl was pronounced dead at the hospital.

The driver, 21-year-old Michelle Lorenzo Equinox, was taken to CMPD headquarters after being released from the hospital. She was charged with involuntary manslaughter, reckless driving, no operator’s license, left-of-center and failure to reduce speed. 

After investigating, police determined the driver was speeding and crossed over the center line, into oncoming traffic. Officers said the driver over-corrected to the right, struck a median, sending the car into the air. Once the vehicle landed, the driver turned the steering wheel left which caused it to go off the road and down an embankment. The vehicle then struck a culvert, and went into a wooded area where the passenger side struck a tree.

Officials said Amancecatl was sitting in the right, rear seat, and was not wearing a seatbelt.

No other details have been released.

Deadly crash closes portion of east Charlotte road Deadly crash closes portion of east Charlotte road

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