Impaired Driver Crashes Into Car, Kills 38-Year-Old Man: CMPD

CHARLOTTE, NC — An impaired driver who was speeding and lost control of his SUV crossed a median and collided with another vehicle head-on, killing its driver Saturday afternoon, according to police.

The incident occurred shortly after 4 p.m. Aug. 28 in the 11000 bock of Johnston Road, off Pineville-Matthews Road in south Charlotte.

According to a Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department report, Ryan Thomas Minch, 46, was driving the silver 2007 Chevrolet Trailblazer north on Johnston Road "at a high rate of speed," when he lost control and drove over the median, colliding head on with a silver 2010 Toyota Yaris.

The driver of the Yaris, who was identified as Gustavo Leobardo Lopez-Cuarez, 38, was pronounced dead at the scene, CMPD said.

"It was determined by officers that Minch was impaired at the time of the crash," CMPD said. Minch was treated and released from an area hospital, then taken into custody. He was charged with felony death by vehicle, DWI, reckless driving and open container of alcoholic beverage, police said.

CMPD said an investigation into the crash remains active and ongoing, and asked that anyone who witnessed the crash call Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600.