A tragic event unfolded on a busy Charlotte street yesterday morning when two cars collided, resulting in two fatalities. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department confirmed the incident occurred on Freedom Drive near the 3200 block.

According to officials, Gregory Matthew Thompson, 67, and Connie Lee Yates, 70, were in a 2024 Mitsubishi Mirage making a U-turn when Tajarvis Deonte Wall, 34, driving a 2010 Dodge Challenger collided with their vehicle. Both Thompson and Yates were pronounced dead at the scene, and Wall and a juvenile passenger were taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The preliminary investigation indicates that Wall was not impaired, however, his excessive speed and several violations including misdemeanor death by vehicle, suggest a reckless abandonment of the traffic laws designed to keep our roads safe.

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department indicated that toxicology results for Mr. Thompson are still pending, and it is not clear if impairment was a contributing factor on his part. The CMPD has since charged Wall with two counts of misdemeanor death by vehicle, among other violations and he was handed over to the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office post his hospital release.

In the aftermath of the crash, detectives from the Major Crash Investigation Unit and Crime Scene Search were at the scene to investigate the cause of the crash. After the collision, the next of kin for both deceased individuals have been notified. CMPD is urging witnesses and anyone with information to contact Detective M.R. Pressley or Crime Stoppers using the provided contact details. The investigation remains active, and updates will be relayed by the CMPD Public Affairs as they become available.