Charlotte, N.C : Two people died in a car crash near uptown Charlotte on Saturday morning, January 31, 2015

A driver is facing charges and two of his passengers are dead after a car ran a red light in Uptown Charlotte Saturday morning, police said.

According to police, Larry Lynch was driving his 1999 Buick LeSabre at a high rate of speed coming down Central Avenue toward North Kings Drive. As Lynch approached the intersection of Central Avenue and 7th Street, he failed to stop for a red traffic signal, police said. Lynch entered the intersection on a red light and was struck in the passenger side by a 2011 Chevrolet Impala heading outbound on 7th Street.

After the impact, police said both vehicles rotated in the roadway. The Buick drove off the left side of the road down a slight embankment and into a parking lot. The rear of the Buick then struck the front of a parked SUV before coming to a stop.

Lynch and the rear left passenger of his car, Cristina Villacorta, were taken to Carolinas Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries. The front right passenger, Flor Villacorta Margarita, and rear right passenger, Ramos Villacorta, were pronounced dead at the scene.

The driver of the Impala was also taken to CMC for non-life-threatening injuries.

After he was released from CMC, Lynch was charged with two counts of misdemeanor death by motor vehicle, reckless driving and a red-light violation. He was transported to the Mecklenburg County Jail.

Police said alcohol is not a factor in the crash, but speed is.

"This is just breaking my heart as a talk to you," said Anna-Catherine Sendgikoski, who told Eyewitness News she is neighbors with Larry and Cristina. She said the two are married and a good Christian couple.

"They're an awesome family and this is just a true accident, a true tragedy," said Sendgikoski.

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department is investigating.

Source :
Police: Driver ran red light in accident near uptown, 2 dead