76-Year-Old Man In Wheelchair Hit And Killed In Charlotte, Raise Questions On Pedestrian Safety

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A Steele Creek family is mourning the loss of 76-year-old Hanh Hoang, a Vietnam War veteran, who was struck and killed while crossing a busy Charlotte intersection in his motorized wheelchair Monday morning. Police say the crash happened just after 8 a.m. at the intersection of Shopton Road West and Caden Road, near the Harris Teeter shopping center.

Veteran Remembered for Strength and Kindness

Family members say Hoang was known for his resilience, gentle spirit, and unwavering independence despite losing his leg while serving alongside U.S. forces during the Vietnam War.
“He was very sweet, kind, and had a really big smile,” said his daughter Jenny. “It was just so sudden. Every time I look at his picture, I just can’t stop crying.”

His son-in-law Stace said Hoang lived a full life dedicated to faith, family, and freedom. “He loved God, he loved his family, he loved his garden, and he loved his freedom,” Stace said. “A couple of times a week, he would get up, pray with mom, and head to Harris Teeter, especially on nice days.”

Routine Trip Ends in Tragedy

Police said the driver involved remained on the scene and is cooperating with investigators. Hoang was rushed to a local hospital for emergency surgery but did not survive. “He just didn’t make it. His heart gave out, and he died on the operating table,” Stace said.

Now, the family is demanding accountability and improvements to pedestrian safety at the intersection where the crash occurred.

Family Raises Safety Concerns

Relatives say the crosswalk markings at Shopton Road West are so faded that they’re nearly invisible. “The white crosswalk was so worn out that you couldn’t even see it,” Stace said. “People are rushing to work, maybe multitasking when they shouldn’t be. I fully expected to see skid marks, but there were none. He was hit full force.”

Local workers told reporters that speeding along Shopton Road West is a persistent problem. According to Charlotte’s Vision Zero dashboard, 45 deadly crashes have occurred in the city so far this year, many linked to excessive speed.

Hoang’s family believes that clearer crosswalk markings, traffic lights, or speed humps could have prevented the tragedy. “We know nothing can bring him back,” Stace said. “But we hope that by letting people know this happened, maybe we can prevent it from happening again.”

Investigation Ongoing

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department continues to investigate and urges anyone who witnessed the crash to come forward. Officials say even small details could help the family find closure.

The Charlotte Department of Transportation has not yet responded to questions about safety concerns at the intersection.

The Saluda Standard-Sentinel extends condolences to the Hoang family and encourages readers to share their thoughts on traffic safety and pedestrian awareness at SaludaStandard-Sentinel.com.