NTSB investigating deadly crash that killed four children and two adults

CHARLOTTE, NC – The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating a crash that killed four children and two adults on Interstate 485 near Wilkinson Boulevard in Charlotte.

One 16-year-old girl survived the crash and she is in the hospital recovering.

Troopers say 16 year old Logan Sauer was driving an SUV in the middle lane when he swerved into the right lane hitting a minivan. Troopers say Taylor Willis, 23, Brynlon Holmes, 1, Addyson Holmes, 3 and Kamron Wood, 8 were inside of the van with 23 year old Samuel Holmes driving.

“We’re just, everything’s upside down,” Roger Wood Jr, Kameron Wood’s Father said. “We’re just trying to make it through this and take it one day at a time.”

Wood says his 8 year old son Kamron was a passenger in a mini van driven by his nephew Saturday morning. Most of the people in the van were related and heading to Carowinds for a family fun day.

“Don’t remember them as just an accident,” Wood said. “Just try to remember them as pictures that everybody has seen, just try to remember their big smiles they had on their face.”

Troopers say the impact slammed both vehicles into a tractor trailer wedging them under the truck.

Matt Reilly, Senior Instructor at B.R.A.K. E.S says their organization gives teens the tools to avoid crashes. The classes are hosted in Charlotte monthly and adults are required to attend with the teen.

“We actually put the teens into sticky situations that they are going to encounter sooner or later down the road,” Reilly said.

He says accidents are one of the leading causes of death in young people.

“We got to make them good drivers because that’s going to make them successful adults,” Reilly said. “Hopefully through the awareness, through this type of training, we don’t have to see these type of tragedies anymore because it affects everybody.”

The family of the victims are now raising money to plan five funerals.

“No matter where we go, he’s going to be with us and we’ll continue adventures being adventurous for him,” Wood said.

There is a GoFundMe to support the Holmes family and the Wood family. The family also says you can donate directly to Greene Funeral Home in Gastonia.