Woman killed in east Charlotte crash involving off-duty CMPD officer

A woman was killed following a wreck that involved an off-duty Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officer in east Charlotte Saturday afternoon, authorities said.

CMPD was called to the crash at around 12:25 p.m. in the 500 block of West Sugar Creek Road near Sofley Road, where a marked patrol car and a 1992 Honda Accord had collided. The woman who was driving the Honda was taken to Carolinas Medical Center by MEDIC, where she was pronounced dead on arrival by medical personnel, authorities said.

Police identified her as Lachandra Ciera McCorkle, who had just turned 25 last Sunday.

Police said the officer, 40-year-old Wraith Muhammad, was off duty when the crash happened. The wreck occurred when McCorkle entered the intersection of West Sugar Creek Road and Sofley Road, and Muhammad crashed into the driver’s side of her Honda, police said.

Muhammad, who was driving a 2017 Ford Explorer, was treated for minor injuries at CMC, police said.

The 500 block of West Sugar Creek Road was closed in both directions Saturday, as investigators determined what led to the crash.

Officials also are investigating whether impairment was a factor for Mccorkle. Speed does not appear to be a factor in the crash, police said.

It was not immediately known how long Muhammad has been with the police force.

This is the second fatal crash in recent months involving a CMPD officer.

Last month, Officer Phillip Barker, 24, was charged with misdemeanor death by vehicle, after he fatally struck a pedestrian on Morehead Street near Euclid Avenue. Barker was traveling at more than 100 mph at the time of July’s crash, police said.

This story was originally published August 26, 2017 at 1:08 PM with the headline "Woman killed in east Charlotte crash involving off-duty CMPD officer."