‘The crash was brutal’: Neighbor jumped to help victims of deadly south Charlotte crash

CHARLOTTE, N.C. ( QUEEN CITY NEWS ) – An 11-year-old girl died and four others were seriously injured after a crash on Sharon View Road in south Charlotte.

It happened around noon on Saturday, September 7. The 11-year-old girl has been identified by CMPD as Emery Catherine Layson.

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“We heard this loud explosion,” said John Casper, who jumped into action to help the victims. “We saw two cars that had hit head-on.”

The crash happened near Chadwick Place. On Sunday, you could still see tire marks on the grass and debris from the vehicles on the ground.

“I knew it was serious,” said Monica Casper, who lives along Sharon View Road.

The crash wasn’t far from John and Monica Casper’s house. The two were home when it happened. John was one of the first on the scene, using his CPR and first aid skills to help.

“The crash was brutal,” he said. “It was a brutal scene. I wanted to attend to the worst, and it looked like the mom. She was concussed, so I felt her pulse, laid her back, and just wanted to keep her calm.”

First responders from Mecklenburg Emergency Services took five people to the hospital. They say one of them, an 11-year-old girl, died.

“It’s a tragedy,” said John. “You take a life that young, it’s gut-wrenching. It’s gut-wrenching.”

Sunday afternoon, our crews watched as some neighbors left flowers at the crash site to remember the child.

“It’s the beginning of the school year and this child was just starting her life,” said Monica.

While investigators haven’t said what caused the crash, neighbors told us they believe one of the drivers had a medical emergency.

The Caspers said this is one of the worst wrecks they’ve seen in their nine years living along the 35-mile-per-hour road, but they’re no stranger to accidents.

“They use this as a racing track,” said John.

They hope city leaders will take action, and drivers will do their part to slow down.

“I hope this doesn’t happen in this neighborhood again,” said John.

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