Fatal Hit and Run in the Eastway Division

Published on January 15, 2026

Charlotte, N.C. – (Thursday, Jan. 15, 2025) – On Wednesday, Jan. 14, at approximately 5:47 p.m., officers responded to a vehicle crash with personal injury in the 3300 block of The Plaza.

Upon arrival, officers located a severely injured pedestrian, Lance Andreas Jesus Sotelo, 25, in the roadway. MEDIC responded and pronounced Mr. Sotelo deceased on the scene. The vehicle that struck Mr. Sotelo failed to stop and fled the scene southwest on The Plaza.

Detectives with the Major Crash Investigation Unit, officers with the DWI Task Force, and a member of Crime Scene Search (CSS) responded to the scene to conduct their investigation.

The preliminary investigation indicates that the vehicle that struck Mr. Sotelo was a white Chevrolet Impala. The Impala was traveling southwest on The Plaza at East 36^th Street when the vehicle ran a red light at the intersection and struck Mr. Sotelo, before fleeing the scene.

Today, Jan. 15, the driver of the Impala, Q’Laundra Kadri Hood, 28, turned herself in at the Hickory Grove Division.

Ms. Hood was interviewed by detectives and then transferred to the custody of the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office.

Ms. Hood is charged with the following:

Felony Hit and Run
Involuntary Manslaughter
No Operator’s License
Failing to Stop at a Red Light

Speed is a suspected factor, while impairment is unknown for Ms. Hood.

Impairment is not a suspected factor for Mr. Sotelo.

Mr. Sotelo’s next of kin has been notified of his death.

This is an ongoing, active investigation. As further information develops, it will be released by CMPD’s Public Affairs Division. Any witnesses to the crash or anyone with information concerning the crash should contact Detective Sessoms at 704-432-2169 ext. 3. The public can also leave information anonymously by calling Charlotte Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600, using the Charlotte Crime Stoppers P3 Tips Mobile App or by visiting the Charlotte Crime Stoppers website. For additional information about this case, please refer to the report: 20260114-1747-03.

###