Woman Charged in Fatal I-85 Crash Involving Illegal Street Race
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Julia Samantha Henderson, 22, has been charged with felony second degree murder following a fatal crash on Interstate 85 on July 25, according to the North Carolina State Highway Patrol.
The incident occurred around 7:30 p.m. near Sugar Creek Road when Henderson was allegedly racing at 132 mph in an Audi. In the collision, she struck a motorcycle operated by 17-year-old Alex Jaden Rodriguez, who was pronounced dead at the scene.
The crash involved four vehicles, including a Mercedes, Hyundai, and the motorcycle. Authorities reported that the driver of the Mercedes, Estrella Gutierrez-Perez, was also arrested on similar charges. She sustained minor injuries but declined medical treatment.
Emergency responders transported Gutierrez-Perez to Atrium Main Hospital, and both Henderson and the Hyundai driver refused medical assistance. The investigation remains ongoing.
Henderson turned herself in on August 15, with no prior criminal history noted in court documents. Witnesses reported high-speed racing at the time of the incident, which authorities confirmed in a news release.
Rodriguez was a student at Rowan-Cabarrus Community College, aspiring to be a diesel mechanic, and was remembered for his love of outdoor activities.
This story was originally published August 17, 2026.