Impaired Driver Charged with Felony Death After West Charlotte Crash Kills Two Motorcyclists

​CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A tragic collision in west Charlotte on the evening of October 24 has claimed the lives of two local motorcyclists, prompting felony charges and an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainer against the driver.

​According to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD), officers responded to reports of a severe crash at approximately 6:30 p.m. in the 10600 block of Moores Chapel Road, near Sam Wilson Road. Investigators determined that 36-year-old Jose Carlos Salas-Tzompaxtle was driving a Honda and turning left from a private driveway when he failed to yield the right-of-way.

​Salas-Tzompaxtle pulled directly into the path of an oncoming Harley-Davidson motorcycle. The operator of the motorcycle, 66-year-old Rodney Ewing Quinn, attempted to brake but collided with the front left corner of the Honda. The impact threw both Quinn and his passenger, 63-year-old Dana Asbill Osborne, from the bike onto the pavement.

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​Despite both victims wearing Department of Transportation-approved helmets, MEDIC pronounced them dead at the scene.

​Salas-Tzompaxtle remained at the location and reported no injuries. Responding officers noted that he displayed signs of impairment. Police additionally confirmed that he was operating the vehicle without a valid driver’s license.

​Federal immigration authorities have placed an ICE detainer on Salas-Tzompaxtle, a Mexican national originally from Veracruz. He is currently being held at the Mecklenburg County Detention Center under a $1 million bond, facing two counts of felony death by motor vehicle alongside traffic citations for operating without a license.

​The investigation into the collision remains active. Authorities ask anyone with information regarding the crash to contact CMPD Detective Kupfer or leave an anonymous tip through Crime Stoppers.