Asheville -- July 10, 2026: Asheville Police are actively investigating a fatal rollover collision in West Asheville that claimed the life of 21-year-old Colby Dwayne Owens. Authorities are working to piece together the events surrounding the crash, particularly after a witness reported seeing an individual walking away from the unoccupied vehicle shortly after the incident.
Officers were dispatched around 1:10 a.m. Tuesday, July 7, to a report of a rollover collision on I-240 West near Amboy Road. At the scene, a heavily damaged 2007 Toyota Corolla was found unoccupied. Inside the crashed car, police located a wallet and identification. A witness informed investigators they observed "an individual walking away from the vehicle shortly after the collision," according to APD spokesperson Rick Rice. An immediate search of the area did not locate a driver or any other person.
Hours later, at approximately 9:15 a.m., a pedestrian walking along Virginia Avenue reported seeing a body in dense underbrush along an embankment. Responding officers and investigators located the deceased victim, who was identified by police as Colby Dwayne Owens after locating identification associated with the crashed vehicle. Next of kin were notified.
Preliminary findings from the Asheville Police investigation indicate Owens was driving westbound on I-240 when, for unknown reasons, the car left the right side of the roadway and struck the right-side guardrail. The impact sent the vehicle back across all westbound lanes, where it then hit the left-side guardrail. The car subsequently rolled over and came to rest down an embankment. Owens was ejected from the vehicle during the rollover and was found in thick underbrush along the embankment near Virginia Avenue.
Investigation Continues
The incident is described by Asheville Police as a fatal single-vehicle motor vehicle collision, and the investigation remains ongoing. The exact cause of the crash is still undetermined, with investigators stating Owens' car left the roadway "for unknown reasons." A key unresolved element is the report of an individual walking away from the Corolla shortly after the crash. Public statements have not indicated whether APD has identified or located that individual, nor clarified if it was Owens or someone else. Authorities have not publicly released findings on speed, impairment, or other contributing factors, which remain under investigation. No charges or additional suspects have been announced.
The Asheville Police Department continues to investigate and is asking for the public's help. Anyone with information about the crash is urged to contact APD at (828) 252-1110. For those wishing to remain anonymous, tips can be sent by texting "TIP2APD" to 847411. The search for answers in this case continues as investigators work to understand the full circumstances of the fatal collision.