Rowan County lost two young lives late Friday night when a routine drive turned tragic on a dark stretch of Amity Hill Road. Fletcher Harris, 20, of Catawba, and Skylar Provenza, 19, of Statesville, were killed after their car was struck head-on just after 11:15 p.m., according to authorities.
State troopers say Harris was driving a Honda Accord along Amity Hill Road near the Iredell County line. A Chevy Silverado traveling north crossed the center line and slammed directly into the Accord. The impact was violent and sudden. Emergency crews rushed in after reports of a serious two-vehicle crash.
Both Harris and Provenza were pronounced dead at the scene. Investigators said their injuries were catastrophic. The quiet rural roadway, normally calm at that hour, became a place of flashing lights, twisted metal, and stunned silence.
The driver of the Silverado, Juan Alvarado Aguilar, 37, was treated at the scene for minor injuries and then taken into custody. He was booked into the Rowan County Jail on two counts of felony death by vehicle and driving while impaired. Authorities set his bond at $250,000. Records also show an outstanding $1,500 bond tied to a prior failure-to-appear in a DWI case in Cabarrus County.
See: CLINTON COUNTY, Ohio: Hillsboro Man Killed After Being Ejected in Rollover Crash on State Route 73
Federal immigration authorities later placed an ICE detainer on Aguilar. That action signals that immigration officials believe he is not legally in the United States and must be notified before any release or transfer. Local officials have not released further details about his immigration status or whether federal charges could follow.
Amity Hill Road is a narrow, two-lane rural road that connects small communities east of the Iredell County line. Troopers noted the area has seen serious crashes before. Investigators are still working to determine key factors in this case, including speed, impairment, and road conditions at the time of the collision.
Harris was a junior at Catawba College, where he studied environmental and sustainability studies and biology. He was also a member of the men’s soccer team and earned spots on the Dean’s List and the Presidential Honor Roll. College officials said counseling and support services are in place as students and staff grieve the loss.
Less is publicly known about Provenza, but the pain of her loss is deeply felt. Friends and family members from across Rowan County have begun gathering to mourn both victims. Flowers, candles, and handwritten notes now mark the crash site, a quiet tribute to two lives cut short.
The North Carolina State Highway Patrol continues to review witness statements, physical evidence, and any available surveillance. As the investigation moves forward, officials are urging anyone with information to come forward, while a community pauses to remember Fletcher Harris and Skylar Provenza.
