CMPD: 11-year-old girl killed, 4 people hurt in south Charlotte head-on crash

CHARLOTTE — An 11-year-old girl died and four others were seriously hurt in a head-on crash in south Charlotte over the weekend. The girl was a student at a Charlotte middle school, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools said.

It happened around 11:50 a.m. Saturday on Sharon View Road near Chadwick Place.

According to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, a BMW X3 was heading east on Sharon View Road when it crossed the center line, slamming into a GMC Acadia head-on.

The woman driving the BMW was seriously hurt. A passenger inside her car, 11-year-old Emery Catherine Layson, died at the hospital, investigators said. A second child inside the BMW was hurt but their injuries weren’t life-threatening.

As for the people inside the GMC, the driver and her passenger, another child, were both hurt but neither of their injuries were life-threatening.

Investigators don’t believe speeding or impairment led to the crash.

According to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, Emery was a sixth-grader at Carmel Middle School. It was her mom who was seriously hurt, the district said, and they asked for prayers for their family.

“We are praying for Emery’s family and friends as they grieve the loss of this young life,” the district said in a message to families. “We are also praying for her mother.”

CMS said Emery’s dad and younger brother were not in the car with her.

The school is making grief counselors available for anyone who needs them.

‘What in the world happened here’

Channel 9′s Glenn Counts spoke with a neighbor who said the crash was right in front of her home.

“I saw cars and these people just laying near the sidewalk, and we just tried to figure out what in the world happened here,” Karen Farst said.

She said other neighbors sprang into action and tried to help the survivors before first responders arrived.

“It was horrible,” Farst said. “This little girl was lying on the ground. I said, ‘Were you in the car?’ She said, ‘Yes, I was in the car.’ I said, ‘Were you in the back seat?’ She said, ‘Yeah.’”

Farst said the crash brought back a lot of unpleasant memories because years ago, her husband was killed in a crash. She understands what the little girl’s family is going through.

“People don’t understand what — they just don’t understand what it’s like when the split-second person you love most is just gone. I feel so bad about that little girl,” Farst said.

Read the full statement from CMS below:

“Carmel Middle School families and staff, this is Principal Andre Plaisance sharing some sad news.

“I am reaching out to let you know that one of our students, 6th grader Emery Layson died unexpectedly yesterday in a car accident. Her mother was seriously injured in the same accident. We are praying for Emery’s family and friends as they grieve the loss of this young life. We are also praying for her mother. Her father and younger brother Evan were not in the car.

“Sudden death and life-threatening injuries can be difficult for us to understand. If your family has experienced a death or similar loss recently, this accident may bring up strong feelings. We may feel a variety of emotions: shock, overwhelming sadness, anger or confusion. While this may be a normal experience, we want to provide assistance if needed. The Crisis Response Team has made plans to respond to the emotional needs of all students. Counselors will be available to assist with grief counseling and to speak with students who need support.

“Please make your student’s teacher or our counselors aware if there is any additional information the school should be aware of, so we can provide the support your student needs. A sudden death may be disturbing to you as well as to your student. It is for this reason that we especially want you to know of our care and support.

“At this time, the family asks that you not reach out to them. We will provide updates as they become available.

“Thank you for your continued support of Carmel Middle School.”

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