CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department is investigating a 3-car crash that left one dead and several injured.
Police were called to Steele Creek Road near Arrival Drive around 10 p.m. on Sunday, June 3, where they located a 2007 Toyota Highlander SUV, a 2015 Hyundai Sonata passenger car and a 2014 Nissan Sentra passenger car that had all been involved in a crash.
According to police, the 2007 Toyota Highlander was traveling north on Steele Creek Road towards South Tryon Street and crossed the center double yellow dividing line into oncoming traffic. As the Toyota crossed the center line, a 2015 Hyundai Sonata, driven by Ann Michelle Strickland, was traveling south on Steele Creek Road and was struck head on by the Toyota.
Both vehicles then rotated off of each other with the Hyundai Sonata coming to a final rest to the right of the roadway. While the Toyota was coming to a rest, it was struck in the right front area by a 2014 Nissan Sentra, driven by Walter Helmandollar. The Nissan was traveling south behind the Hyundai on Steele Creek Road just prior to the crash.
Medic pronounced the driver of the Toyota, 62-year-old Edwin Mercado, dead on the scene. The three victims traveling in the Hyundai, Ann Strickland, Darryl James Strickland and a 14-year-old girl, were sent to Carolinas Medical Center- Main with serious injuries. The driver of the 2014 Nissan, Walter Helmandollar, did not suffer from any injures.
Speed and alcohol are not factors for the operators of the Hyundai and Nissan in the crash and both drivers and passengers of the Hyundai and Nissan were wearing seat belts. The operator of the Toyota was not wearing a seat belt and speed and alcohol are unknown at this time.
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact Detective Crum with the Major Crash Investigations Unit at 704-432-2169.
