Authorities in Cabarrus County are investigating a serious early-morning crash that claimed two lives on Interstate 85 near the Concord Regional Airport.
According to the Mecklenburg EMS Agency (MEDIC), emergency crews responded to the crash shortly after 5 a.m. on Friday, March 6. The incident occurred on the southbound lanes of I-85 near mile marker 49, between Interstate 485 and Poplar Tent Road.
Investigators with the North Carolina State Highway Patrol said a blue 2017 Ford Focus entered the interstate traveling in the wrong direction from Exit 49 for Brunton Smith Boulevard. Trooper Whit Efrid reported that the vehicle, driven by 25-year-old Ryan Stamper, collided head-on with a red 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe in the left lane.
The Hyundai was driven by 54-year-old Robert Muellemann. Authorities confirmed that both drivers died at the scene as a result of the crash.
Officials said the Cabarrus County Medical Examiner’s Office will conduct further examinations to determine whether impairment may have played a role in the incident.
Troopers also reported that the initial crash triggered three additional secondary collisions in the area. Emergency crews transported two individuals to a nearby hospital with minor injuries following those incidents.
As first responders worked at the scene, all southbound lanes of Interstate 85 were temporarily closed for several hours near Exit 52 at Poplar Tent Road while investigators cleared the roadway and gathered evidence.
Authorities continue to review the circumstances that led to the wrong-way crash.
As investigators work to determine what happened, the tragic incident raises an important question for drivers and communities alike: what more can be done to prevent wrong-way crashes and improve highway safety?
