Fatal Single-Vehicle Crash on Central Avenue in East Charlotte Leaves One Person Dead, Police Investigating
What happened
One person was killed Sunday afternoon in a single-vehicle crash in east Charlotte after a vehicle struck a tree, emergency officials said. The collision was reported around 2:15 p.m. in the 4900 block of Central Avenue near Driftwood Drive, a busy corridor that connects several east Charlotte neighborhoods.
Paramedics pronounced the victim dead at the scene. No additional identifying information was released Sunday, and it remained unclear whether any other occupants were involved.
Traffic impacts and the investigation
The crash prompted an active police response and significant congestion on Central Avenue, with traffic backing up as investigators worked the scene. Police asked drivers to avoid the area and use alternate routes while the investigation was underway.
The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department is investigating what led to the crash. As of Sunday, authorities had not publicly released details about the vehicle’s speed, whether impairment was suspected, or whether seatbelts were in use. Officials also had not announced any charges.
Police urged motorists to avoid Central Avenue near the crash site while the investigation continued.
How this fits into Charlotte’s road-safety picture
The fatal wreck comes as Charlotte continues to report elevated levels of deadly and serious-injury crashes even when overall collision totals fluctuate from year to year.
City data published in the annual Vision Zero report for fiscal year 2025 shows 81 people were killed on Charlotte roads and 111 people suffered serious injuries. The same dataset shows deadly crashes were higher in 2025 than in 2024, and serious-injury crashes also increased year over year, despite a decline in total crashes.
The Vision Zero program, adopted by the city in 2018, sets out a strategy to reduce and ultimately eliminate traffic-related deaths and severe injuries through roadway design changes, targeted safety investments, and education efforts. The city has also identified a “high-injury network,” aiming to focus safety work on the smaller share of streets where a large portion of the most severe crashes occur.
What to know next
Police are expected to release additional findings as investigators reconstruct the crash and review any available evidence.
Drivers in east Charlotte may see periodic lane closures and traffic slowdowns during follow-up investigative work.
Anyone who witnessed the crash or has relevant information may be asked to speak with investigators as the case develops.
This story will be updated as more details are released.