Federal safety investigators say a 16-year-old driver killed in a multi-vehicle crash on the I-485 outer loop near Charlotte had marijuana compounds in his system, according to newly released federal documents. The July 26, 2025 wreck on the outer loop near the Dixie River Road overpass left six people dead and one teen hospitalized.
A medical report from the National Transportation Safety Board shows delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) at 12.6 ng/mL in the Honda CR-V driver's blood, with metabolites and other cannabinoids found in postmortem samples. The FAA Forensic Sciences Laboratory performed the toxicology testing, and the state medical examiner reported no alcohol. At the same time, NTSB investigators stressed that interpreting cannabinoid levels after death is complicated and that a single concentration does not directly prove impairment.
Local authorities identified the dead as Logan Paul Sauer, 16, of Mooresville, who was driving the CR-V, and five people riding in a Chrysler Town & Country minivan: Samuel Jacob Holmes, 27; Taylor Willis, 23; and three children, Brynlon Holmes, 1; Addyson Holmes, 3; and Kamron Wood, 8. Those identifications were reported by the Charlotte Observer, and local television coverage noted that troopers said no criminal charges were expected to be filed in connection with the crash.
What Investigators Say About the Crash Sequence
According to the NTSB's reconstruction, the Honda CR-V was moving about 78 mph in the middle lane of I-485 and the minivan about 66 mph in the right lane when the SUV suddenly shifted into the right lane and struck the van. Both vehicles then veered onto the shoulder and slid beneath a parked tractor-trailer. As detailed in the board's National Transportation Safety Board crash information and summary report, investigators relied on vehicle data, phone records and physical evidence on the roadway to map out the timing of the lane change and calculate impact speeds.
Marijuana, Impairment and Testing Limits
Federal guidance and research point out that cannabis use can affect reaction time, coordination and decision-making, all of which matter when a driver is traveling at highway speeds. Even so, investigators and toxicologists caution that blood levels alone, especially postmortem readings, do not give a simple yes-or-no answer on impairment. For background on how drug-impaired driving is evaluated, investigators often refer to NHTSA Drugs and Human Performance fact sheets when weighing toxicology results against other evidence from a crash.
Local Response and What Comes Next
State troopers and local partners have cited the I-485 crash as a key reason for stepped-up enforcement and safety work along the loop, pointing to the wreck as a stark reminder of the stakes when speeds and risky maneuvers mix. Investigators with the NTSB and the North Carolina State Highway Patrol say the case docket and evidence review remain open. At the same time, local safety campaigns and extra enforcement around the interstate are aimed at curbing dangerous driving behaviors while the NTSB continues to sift through contributing factors and consider possible safety recommendations.
