CHARLOTTE, N.C. — All lanes of I-85 north are back open after a pedestrian was hit and killed in north Charlotte early Friday, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police said.
CMPD was called to a crash involving a pedestrian at Sugar Creek Road and I-85 at 1:45 a.m. The victim, 48-year-old Willie Nathaniel Corry Jr., was pronounced dead at the scene.
The North Carolina State Highway Patrol located a silver 2000 Mercury Grand Marquis down an embankment between the I-85 connector and Reagan Drive. Officials say there were no occupants in the vehicle.
A CMPD K-9 was called to the scene to look for the driver or any potential occupants, but nobody was found.
A witness provided information that led officers to the 7-11 store at 1120 West Sugar Creek Road.
The suspect vehicle that was found in the embankment was at the 7-11 store prior to the crash, CMPD determined, and the victim had been in the vehicle.
When the victim entered the 7-11, the vehicle began to back out of the parking space. The victim exited the store and grabbed the front passenger door, holding onto the outside of the vehicle, police say.
CMPD said the vehicle then drove out of the parking lot with the victim still holding on. It entered onto I-85 northbound, and the victim became separated from the vehicle.
Multiple agencies are investigating this case, including the CMPD Major Crash Investigations Unit, DWI Task Force, Crime Scene Search and NCSHP.
It's not known at this time if the driver or victim were impaired at the time.
This is a developing story. Please stick with WCNC.com for the latest.