A 39-year-old Charlotte man died after a single-vehicle crash early last Saturday on Eastway Drive, the latest fatal collision on a corridor neighbors have worried about for years. Emergency crews found him ejected from a damaged vehicle and rushed him to a hospital with life-threatening injuries, and he was pronounced dead on Sunday. Authorities say impairment is suspected and toxicology results are pending.
What Happened On Eastway Drive
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police, Charlotte Fire and MEDIC responded to the 200 block of Eastway Drive at about 4:19 a.m., where crews found a heavily damaged white Chevrolet and the driver, who had been thrown from the vehicle. The driver was later identified as 39-year-old Louis Anthony Chighisola, and investigators reported he was not wearing a seat belt when responders arrived.
As reported by WSOC, investigators said impairment is suspected and they are awaiting toxicology results to confirm whether that played a role.
Eastway's Safety Record
Residents and traffic engineers have long flagged parts of Eastway Drive for safety concerns. WBTV reported that North Carolina Department of Transportation data showed more than 80 crashes on a short stretch of Eastway between The Plaza and Commercial Avenue from 2017 to early 2019.
The NCDOT crash profile for Mecklenburg County shows the county records roughly 30–40 fatal crashes a year, and that alcohol-related collisions account for a small share of overall crashes.
City Response And Next Steps
The City of Charlotte has set aside $10.5 million to reconstruct the Eastway and Shamrock intersection as part of a broader bikeability and Vision Zero push, according to city documents. Investigators said they will rely on toxicology results to determine whether impairment contributed to the wreck, and the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department is asking anyone who may have witnessed the crash to call its TIPS line at 704-432-8477 or reach out to Charlotte Crime Stoppers.
For the city's budget note and CMPD contact details, see the City of Charlotte and CMPD news pages.
The victim’s next of kin has been notified and the investigation remains active, per WSOC. This report will be updated when authorities release further details.
