CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A driver suspected of being impaired was arrested and charged after a left-turn collision involving a Harley-Davidson motorcycle killed two people in Charlotte, according to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD).
The crash happened around 6:34 p.m. Saturday, October 24, 2026, in the 10600 block of Moores Chapel Road.
Investigators say 36-year-old Jose Salas Tzompaxtle was driving a Honda Pilot and turning left out of a driveway onto Moores Chapel Road when he failed to yield the right of way to an approaching Harley-Davidson.
The motorcycle, driven by 66-year-old Rodney Ewing Quinn, was carrying 63-year-old passenger Dana Asbill Osborne.
According to the preliminary investigation, Quinn attempted to stop the motorcycle but struck the left front corner of the Honda Pilot with the right front side of the Harley-Davidson.
The motorcycle then fell onto its side, ejecting both Quinn and Osborne into the roadway.
Both victims were found unresponsive at the scene. Emergency medical personnel pronounced them dead at the scene.
Driver Showed Signs of Impairment, Police Say
CMPD investigators reported that Tzompaxtle showed signs of impairment following the crash. He was arrested and transported to the Mecklenburg County Detention Center.
He was charged with two counts of felony death by motor vehicle and also cited for driving without an operator’s license.
Police have not stated in the initial release whether a chemical test confirmed alcohol or drug impairment. The investigation remains ongoing.
Both Motorcycle Occupants Were Wearing Helmets
CMPD confirmed that Quinn and Osborne were wearing Department of Transportation-approved helmets at the time of the collision.
The crash serves as another reminder of the dangers motorcyclists face when other drivers fail to yield the right of way, particularly during left turns across the path of oncoming traffic.
A driver turning left must yield to oncoming traffic when required. Even when a motorcyclist takes evasive action, the limited time and distance available to avoid a vehicle turning across their path can make a collision unavoidable.
The deaths of Quinn and Osborne remain under investigation by CMPD’s Major Crash Investigation Unit, with assistance from the department’s DWI Task Force and Crime Scene Search personnel.
Anyone with information about the crash is asked to contact Detective Kupfer at 704-432-2169, extension 1. Anonymous tips can also be submitted to Charlotte Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600.
Source: Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, October 25, 2026.