Fatal Crash Investigation in the Hickory Grove Division
Published on January 19, 2025
Fatal Crash Investigation in the Hickory Grove Division
Charlotte, N.C. – (Sunday, January 19, 2025) – Detectives with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department’s Major Crash Investigation Unit are investigating a fatal crash that occurred near the 7100 block of East W.T. Harris Boulevard in the Hickory Grove Division.
On Sunday, January 19, 2025, shortly after 1:30 a.m., officers responded to a motor vehicle crash with injuries near the 7100 block of East W.T. Harris Boulevard. When officers arrived, they located a red 2012 Ford Fusion and a red 2017 Yamaha FZ-09 motorcycle with heavy damage in the middle of the intersection. Officers located the operator of the motorcycle, Anthony Ayala, 25, lying unresponsive in the middle of the roadway. MEDIC responded to the scene and pronounced Mr. Ayala deceased. Two passengers of the Ford Fusion, Edgar Zabir Gonzalez-Perez, 20, and a juvenile, 10, were transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Another passenger in the Ford Fusion, Roberto Emanuel Ortiz, 14, was transported to the hospital with life-threatening injuries and subsequently pronounced deceased. The driver of the Ford Fusion, Sara Perez, did not report any injuries. Mr. Ayala was wearing a DOT-approved helmet, and all four occupants of the Ford Fusion appeared to be wearing their seatbelts at the time of the collision.
Detectives with the Major Crash Investigation Unit and the DWI Task Force responded to the scene to begin their investigation. The initial investigation indicates Mr. Ayala was driving southbound on East W.T. Harris Boulevard at an extremely high rate of speed when he collided with the Ford Fusion that was driving northbound on East W.T. Harris Boulevard and attempting to make a left turn onto Hickory Grove Road.
Members of Crime Scene Search (CSS) responded to process the scene and collect physical evidence.
Speed and impairment are suspected factors in this collision for the operator of the motorcycle. Toxicology results are pending. Speed and impairment are not factors in this collision for the driver of the Ford Fusion.
Mr. Ayala’s and Mr. Ortiz’s next of kin have been notified of their deaths.
This is an ongoing, active investigation. As further information develops it will be released by CMPD Public Affairs. Any witnesses to the crash, or anyone with information concerning the crash, should contact Detective Pressley at (704) 432-2169 Extension 2 or Crime Stoppers at (704) 334-1600. The public can also visit the Crime Stoppers website at Charlotte Crime Stoppers. The report number for this case is 20250119-0139-01.