92-year-old killed, 5 seriously hurt by pickup on wrong side of road, CMPD says
A 92-year-old woman was fatally injured, and five other people were seriously hurt when a pickup began traveling on the wrong side of a busy Charlotte highway, according to police.
Read more A Costco food court item is leaving NC stores for now. What’s replacing it?
The crash happened around 4:30 p.m. on Sunday near the intersection of Interstate 85 and Beatties Ford Road, and investigators suspect “impairment” was involved, Charlotte-Mecklenburg police said in an Oct. 15 news release.
“Officers responded to a motor vehicle crash with injuries involving three vehicles in the 2700 block of Beatties Ford Road,” CMPD said.
“Officers located a Ram pickup truck on its side, a Tesla, and a Kia Sorento with heavy front-end damage. Medic transported six individuals involved in the crash to the hospital with life-threatening injuries. … A passenger of the Kia, Dorthea Leak, 92, was pronounced deceased at the hospital on Monday, Oct. 12.”
Investigators say the crash occurred after a 66-year-old man began operating his Ram pickup “on the wrong side of the roadway at a high rate of speed and struck the Kia head on.”
Read more Upscale tapas and wine bar quietly closes after 4 years in Ballantyne
“The Telsa was struck during the course of the collision,” CMPD said.
“Speed and impairment are suspected factors for (the pickup driver), pending further investigation.”
Court records show charges had not been filed against the pickup driver as of Oct. 16.
This story was originally published October 16, 2026 at 5:18 AM with the headline “92-year-old killed, 5 seriously hurt by pickup on wrong side of road, CMPD says.”
Read more Carolina Panthers will face Eagles without Jalen Hurts. Here’s why, who’s next at QB
