CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Two teenagers are facing charges in connection with an alleged street racing crash that killed an 81-year-old in Charlotte on Sunday, police said.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police responded to a crash on Albemarle Road a few minutes before 10 a.m. on July 28. When officers arrived, they found a 2011 Toyota Camry with heavy damage to the passenger side and a 2006 Nissan 350Z with heavy front-end damage. The driver and passenger of the Toyota were taken to Novant Health's Presbyterian hospital. The driver, identified as 81-year-old Robert Birch, was pronounced dead at the hospital.
Multiple CMPD units were called to investigate the crash. Detectives determined the driver of the Nissan was racing someone in a 2012 Scion when they crashed into the Toyota, which was making a U-turn. The driver and passenger in the Nissan are accused of leaving the scene with the occupants in the Scion.
CMPD officers spotted the Scion a short while later and pulled over the driver. Everyone in the car was taken to CMPD headquarters. The drivers of the Scion and Nissan, both of whom are juveniles, were charged as adults with felony hit-and-run resulting in death, spontaneous street racing and driving without a license. Additional charges are pending with the North Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice, according to CMPD.
Crime involving young people has been a point of emphasis for CMPD in 2024. The department said it has seen a historic spike in crimes involving people under 18, including a 300% increase in homicides committed by juvenile suspects.
"CMPD takes street racing as well as the safety of our community and motoring public very seriously," a CMPD spokesperson said in a released statement. "The department devotes specific resources to target both street racing and street takeover groups and conducts routine enforcement operations to crack down on this reckless behavior."
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call Charlotte Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600. Witnesses can also call Detective Worthy at 704-432-2169, extension 4.
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