Charlotte, NC : 14-year-old dead and four other teenagers injured after a car hit a tree in south Charlotte on Saturday morning, April 2, 2016

A 14-year-old is dead and four other teenagers were taken to the hospital after a car hit a tree and split in half in south Charlotte.

The single-vehicle crash on McKee Road happened just after 4 a.m. Saturday morning. Police say excessive speed appears to be the cause of the crash.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg police say a 17-year-old was driving a Honda Accord faster than the 45 mph speed limit when he encountered a slight curve in the road. Police say he was driving too fast to safely handle the curve and he lost control of the vehicle.

The car crossed the double yellow line, and hit a tree on the passenger side. The car uprooted the tree, then split in half.

The front seat passenger, later identified as Joshua Pang, was pronounced dead on scene by MEDIC.

The driver and the other three female passengers were taken to Carolinas Medical Center. Police say the driver and one other teen girl are currently in the ICU.

The two people in the front seats, including Pang, were both wearing seat belts, according to reports. The backseat passengers were not.

The crash is being investigated, police have not said if the driver will face criminal charges.

Hours after the crash, police were asking that motorists avoid the area near McKee Road Elementary. All lanes have since been reopened to normal traffic.

Source :
14-year-old ID'd as victim in fatal south Charlotte crash, speed listed as factor