CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A man is facing multiple charges, including DWI, in a crash that killed two pedestrians in northeast Charlotte Tuesday afternoon, police said.
Medic was called to a crash along East W.T. Harris Boulevard near Duncroft Lane a few minutes before 3 p.m. Charlotte-Mecklenburg police said the crash involved two vehicles, as well as two pedestrians who were hit. CMPD said one of the pedestrians, identified as Enedina Fernandez, died at the scene. The other pedestrian, 23-year-old Nabila Rasoul, was rushed to a hospital where she died from her injuries.
The Diocese of Charlotte confirmed Fernandez was a volunteer with Catholic Charities. Rasoul was an immigrant from Afghanistan.
Gerry Carter, executive Director and CEO of Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte, provided the following statement to WCNC Charlotte:
“We are heartbroken over the loss of Dina Fernandez and Nabila Rasoul, who were out for a walk after working together on an English lesson Tuesday afternoon. Dina was a passionate volunteer who stepped up to help Catholic Charities in its efforts to resettle Afghan evacuees into our community, and Nabila and her family were recent arrivals. Catholic Charities and the Diocese of Charlotte are reaching out to both families to assist in any way we can, and we hope everyone in the Charlotte community will join us in praying for the families, that they may find strength and support to sustain them in their grief over the sudden, tragic loss of their loved ones.”
The Charlotte News Herald has provided a spotlight on both of their lives with a report posted online.
CMPD said the preliminary investigation determined that a Honda Civic was speeding when the driver failed to stay in his lane and crashed into a Dodge Ram. The truck then hit the curb and flipped over, hitting the pedestrians. The Honda continued to skid before coming to a rest in a parking lot on Harris Boulevard.
CMPD said the driver of the Honda, 21-year-old James Payne, was screened for impairment at the scene and was deemed impaired by an officer at the scene. Police said Payne also had a child in the car with him at the time of the crash.
Payne was arrested and charged with two counts of felony death by motor vehicle, DWI, reckless driving and misdemeanor child abuse. He was also charged for having an open container and other traffic violations.
Any person with information about this crash is asked to call CMPD's Crime Stoppers tip line at 704-334-1600.