CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A convicted felon is facing new charges after police said he caused a crash that seriously injured a 3-year-old-girl in west Charlotte Wednesday night.
According to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police, officers were notified of a suspect wanted for an assault several police officers in Fayetteville who was spotted in Charlotte. The suspect, 27-year-old Marcus Alonzo Harris, was seen driving a white Toyota Camry on the inbound lanes of the Brookshire Freeway near I-85 just before 10 p.m.
When drivers tried to stop Harris, CMPD said he sped away from officers. About a minute later, police said Harris caused a crash between two other vehicles that injured multiple people. Officers say Harris ran a red light and tried to make a left turn onto I-85 south when he caused a collision between his vehicle and two others.
Harris' vehicle caught fire and officers stopped to put out the flames and take Harris into custody.
CMPD said three passengers in a Mitsubishi Gallant suffered serious injuries. A 3-year-old girl in that vehicle also sustained life-threatening injuries. Each passenger was taken to a Charlotte hospital and the young child is in critical condition.
CMPD says the girl was not in a car seat or wearing a seat belt. A male passenger in the backseat of the vehicle with the young girl was also not wearing a seat belt, according to authorities.
The driver of a Chevy Cruze suffered minor injuries and is expected to be OK.
Harris is being treated for serious injuries he suffered in the crash. CMPD said he will be served warrants upon his release from the hospital. Warrants have been issued against Harris for possession of marijuana, driving while license revoked, felony flee to elude arrest, and three counts of Assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury. The assault charges are due to the injuries sustained by the three occupants in the Mitsubishi. He was also issued citations for two stop sign violations, an improper lane change, and failure to stop at a steady red traffic light.
CMPD says there is no indication that the actions of the officers did not fall within the department's policy for pursuits, but the department is conducting an internal investigation.
