Anthony Ayala, Roberto Emanuel Ortiz Death News: 3 crashes in Charlotte result in four fatalities.
Anthony Ayala, Roberto Emanuel Ortiz Death News – The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) is currently investigating a series of fatal vehicle accidents that occurred over the weekend, with three deadly crashes taking place within a span of just three days. One of these incidents occurred early on Sunday, leaving two people dead and two others injured.
The fatal collision on Sunday morning occurred just before 1:30 a.m. in east Charlotte, near the intersection of East W.T. Harris Boulevard and Hickory Grove Road. CMPD reports that 25-year-old Anthony Ayala was operating a motorcycle at an “extremely high rate of speed” when he collided with a 2012 Ford Fusion. Ayala died at the scene of the crash. A passenger in the car, 14-year-old Roberto Emanuel Ortiz, was also killed.
Two additional people, ages 20 and 10, were in the car at the time of the accident. They were taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The driver of the car, who was not identified, was not injured. Investigators with CMPD’s crash investigation unit determined that Ayala was traveling southbound on East W.T. Harris Boulevard when the motorcycle collided with the Ford Fusion. The Fusion had been traveling northbound and was attempting to make a left turn onto Hickory Grove Road at the time of the crash.
In addition to this crash, two other fatal accidents were reported within the previous two days, both of which also left victims with severe injuries or fatalities. On Saturday, Damonta Stephane Alexander, 31, died after losing control of his vehicle in the 7400 block of Steele Creek Road. According to CMPD reports, Alexander’s car struck a brick sign and overturned. Investigators confirmed that Alexander was not wearing a seatbelt, and speed may have been a contributing factor to the crash.
The third fatality occurred on Friday when 34-year-old Bianca Gebremedhin lost control of her vehicle on the 6800 block of the Plaza. She collided with a van that was traveling in the opposite direction. The driver of the van and a juvenile passenger were both hospitalized with injuries that were not considered life-threatening. Gebremedhin, who was not wearing a seatbelt, was taken to a hospital where she later died from the injuries sustained in the crash. CMPD said the accident occurred when Gebremedhin, who was driving eastbound on the Plaza, failed to maintain her lane, which led to the collision with the van.
In total, the three crashes claimed the lives of four people in just a matter of days, and CMPD is continuing to investigate the causes of these incidents. The department is urging drivers to exercise caution and to follow traffic laws in order to prevent further tragedies.
