Fatal Crash Investigation in the Eastway Division

Published on January 02, 2025

Charlotte, N.C. – (Thursday, January 2, 2025) – Detectives with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department’s Major Crash Investigation Unit are investigating a fatal crash involving a vehicle and a Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) bus.

On Wednesday, January 1, 2025, at 8:26 a.m., officers responded to a vehicle crash with injury in the 5700 block of Central Avenue. Upon arrival, officers located a blue 2007 Honda Civic and its driver, Ofren Parra Guzman, 19, and two passengers, Gustavo Gonzalez Fuemayor, 21, and Edgar Sanchez, 50. Officers also located CATS bus 2157 and its uninjured driver.

MEDIC arrived on scene and transported Mr. Guzman to Novant Presbyterian with life-threatening injuries and Mr. Fuemayor with minor injuries. Two bus passengers were treated for minor injuries.

The rear seat passenger of the Honda Civic, Mr. Sanchez was pronounced deceased on scene. Mr. Sanchez was not wearing his seatbelt at the time of the crash.

The preliminary investigation indicated that Mr. Guzman was driving at a high rate of speed on Central Avenue near Reddman Road when he collided into the back of a CATS bus that was stopped at a bus stop.

Charges will be determined pending the investigation.

Mr. Sanchez’s next of kin has been notified of his death.

This is an ongoing, active investigation.  As further information develops it will be released by the CMPD’s Public Affairs Division. Any witnesses to the crash, or anyone with information concerning the crash, should contact Detective Sessoms at (704) 432-2169 Extension 3 or Crime Stoppers at (704) 334-1600. The public can also visit the Crime Stoppers website at http://charlottecrimestoppers.com/.   The report number for this case is 20250101-0826-00.

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