CHARLOTTE, NC — Officials have reopened all outbound lanes on Independence Boulevard following a fatal accident early Wednesday morning.
Around 2:25am Wednesday a woman was found dead in the outbound lanes of Independence Boulevard near Pecan Avenue.
Police say William Anthony Short was operating a 2016 Cam Am Spyder Motorcycle traveling east on Independence Boulevard with a passenger at a high rate of speed and traveling behind another unknown brand of motorcycle. The two vehicles collided causing Short to loose control eventually leading to both him and his passenger getting ejected from the motorcycle before it struck a concrete barrier several times before stopping. When medics arrived on scene, they pronounced the female passenger, Tracy Elizabeth Gagnon, deceased from injuries sustained during the crash.
William Short sustained non-life threatening injuries and was transported to Carolinas Medical Center and was arrested following his release. Short was charged with Involuntary Manslaughter, Felony Death by Motor Vehicle, Driving While Impaired and No Motorcycle Endorsement. Officers determined that alcohol use and excessive speed were contributing factors in the crash.
This crash is still an ongoing investigation. Anyone with information about this crash is asked to contact Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600 or the Major Crash Investigation Unit of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department at 704-432-2169. Detective Steve Williams is leading the investigation.
