CONCORD, N.C. — Two drivers were killed early Friday morning in a wrong-way crash on Interstate 85 South near the Bruton Smith Boulevard Exit in Concord, troopers said.
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Ryan Stamper, 25, drove a 2017 Ford Focus north from Exit 49 into the southbound lanes when he struck a 2019 Hyundai Sante Fe, driven by Robert Muellemann, 54, head-on who traveling south in the far-left lane of I-85S.
UPDATE: NCDOT says they hope to have I-85 SB reopened by 10AM after 2 people were killed in a crash at #Concord Mills/Bruton Smith Blvd. around 5 AM. #CabarrusCo pic.twitter.com/W2qzNKiDMU
— Traffic Team 9 (@TrafficTeam9) March 6, 2026
Both were killed and they were the only people in each car, trooper said.
There were three more crashes as drivers tried to avoid the wrong-way wreck. There were serious injuries, troopers said.
The cause is under investigation as the coroner conducts toxicology reports.
I-85 South was closed for about 5.5 hours.
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