Two Drivers Killed in Early-Morning Wrong-Way Collision on I-85 Near Concord Airport

Concord, North Carolina — March 9, 2026 — According to My Fox 8, a wrong-way crash on Interstate 85 left two people dead and several others injured near the airport.

Emergency crews responded to a collision in the southbound lanes of I-85 near mile marker 49, between Interstate 485 and Poplar Tent Road. According to the North Carolina State Highway Patrol, a blue 2017 Ford Focus entered the interstate traveling in the wrong direction from the Brunton Smith Boulevard exit.

Investigators say the Ford Focus, driven by 25-year-old Ryan Stamper, collided head-on with a red 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe. 54-year-old Robert Muellemann was driving the SUV. Both drivers were pronounced dead at the scene.

Officials with the Mecklenburg EMS Agency confirmed that the initial crash triggered several additional collisions in the area. Troopers reported three secondary crashes occurring after the head-on impact.

Two individuals involved in those later crashes were transported to a nearby hospital with minor injuries by Cabarrus County emergency medical personnel.

Authorities said the North Carolina Medical Examiner’s Office will determine whether impairment may have contributed to the incident.

The crash prompted the closure of all southbound lanes of Interstate 85 for several hours near Exit 52 at Poplar Tent Road while investigators examined the scene and crews cleared the roadway. Traffic in the area resumed later in the morning once the investigation concluded.

At Dewey, Ramsay & Hunt, our experienced Charlotte personal injury attorneys are committed to helping crash victims and their families navigate the legal process.

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Notes: Our team created this post using secondary sources and has not independently verified all the facts surrounding the accident. If you find any incorrect details, please contact Dewey, Ramsay & Hunt so we can update the post with the most accurate information. This post will be removed if requested.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this post is not intended to be legal or medical advice and is not a solicitation for business. The photograph used in this post is not representative of this accident. If you are injured in an accident, seek medical attention immediately, then speak to a North Carolina personal injury lawyer as soon as possible.