The tight‑knit community of Gastonia is reeling after the tragic loss of 53‑year‑old Janice Lopez, a compassionate mother and Uber driver, who was killed Sunday evening in a devastating multi‑car crash on Gaston Day School Road. The collision, which occurred around 7 p.m. on November 9, 2025, claimed her life and left several others badly injured.
According to investigators, a 19‑year‑old driver lost control of a southbound vehicle, crossed over the center line and smashed head‑on into Ms. Lopez’s car. The impact triggered a chain reaction that involved two more vehicles, leaving multiple drivers seriously hurt. At this time, no charges have been filed, as toxicology results are still pending.
In the aftermath of the crash, Ms. Lopez’s passenger—seated in the back of her ride‑share vehicle—remains in critical condition, while the drivers of the other vehicles involved were also treated for serious injuries. The teenage driver who initiated the collision was transported to the hospital; his condition is unconfirmed.
Friends and family remember Janice as a warm, generous spirit whose daily work extended far beyond just driving passengers. She lived in South Carolina but served the community in Gastonia, bringing a smile, support and a helping hand to countless people. Her devotion to her children, her friends and her passengers left a lasting imprint on everyone she met. Your note about her warmth and selflessness reflects what many recalled in interviews and social posts in the hours following the crash.
Her sudden demise leaves an enormous void. For her loved ones, she was first a devoted mother and trusted friend—a caregiver whose heart was always open. In this final chapter of her life, she was continuing her service as a ride‑share driver, making ends meet while also being there for others. Her life, though cut short in its prime, was rich in purpose and love.
As the investigation moves forward, the Gastonia community has begun to rally around her family. Community members, fellow drivers, and residents have been offering prayers, sharing memories and showing their support in whatever ways they can. It’s clear that many are mourning not just the loss of a life—but the loss of a presence that quietly made others’ days a little brighter.
Janice’s legacy will be the gentle rays of kindness she brought into the world: the welcoming smile to a stranger, the conversation that eased someone’s day, the steady presence of a mother whose love was unconditional. Though she is gone, that legacy lives on in the hearts of all who knew her—and even in those who only heard her story.
May Janice Lopez rest in peace. Her memory reminds us that life’s fragility is ever present—and so is the power of a single person’s warm, generous spirit.