A Charlotte man faces multiple charges, including involuntary manslaughter, following a deadly crash on Beatties Ford Road late Friday.
Police identified the suspect as Travis Narada Chappell, 37.
According to CMPD, Chappell was speeding on Beatties Ford Road when he crashed a 1999 Ford Taurus, killing a 48-year-old woman in the car. The passenger was identified as Evelyn Elaine Smith.
The incident began shortly after 10:25 p.m. when police were called to an Exxon store in the 2500 block of Beatties Ford in reference to a disturbance. Before officers could get there, a man involved in the disturbance sped away in a Gold Ford Taurus, traveling south on Beatties Ford Road.
Officers traveling north on Beatties Ford Road saw the speeding car, with no head lamps or tail lamps, and attempted to pull it over. According to CMPD, the Taurus ran two red lights and struck the driver’s side rear of a Dodge Neon. The Taurus then continued forward, left the roadway and struck a brick wall before it spun back onto Beatties Ford Road, facing in the opposite direction, and caught on fire. Police used fire extinguishers to put out the flames.
Chappell was taken to Carolinas Medical Center with minor injuries. Paramedics pronounced Smith dead at the scene. Two passengers in the Neo suffered minor injuries.
A third car, stopped on Beatties Ford Road, was struck by debris from the wreckage. No one inside that car was injured, police said.
Chappell was charged with driving while impaired, driving with a suspended license, felony death by motor vehicle, involuntary manslaughter, careless-reckless driving and possession of drug paraphernalia.
CMPD said at no time were officers involved in a pursuit before the crash.
