Pedestrian injury and death a concern on North Carolina Road

Locals call a particular stretch of North Carolina 12 “no man’s land” because of the danger to pedestrians. The road can get quite narrow in some spots and it is difficult for pedestrians and bicycle riders to stay off of the road. The possibility for a pedestrian to suffer an injury or even death is high in this particular spot.

As if to confirm what locals already knew, a couple was recently killed as they were walking on this stretch of road. According to preliminary reports from police, the 50-year-old driver of the car that hit them fell asleep behind the wheel. The couple had been on their way to the beach to meet up with their four children.

A spokesperson for Currituck County said a project is underway in Corolla, the North Carolina town where the auto accident took place, to add bicycle and pedestrian paths to N.C. 12. However, the project was begun on the north side of town and had not yet reached the point where the couple was struck and killed. The town of Duck is also going to do a study regarding adding a pedestrian and bicycle path to the section of N.C. 12 that goes through their town.

Even though these two towns and other parts of the state are looking at adding pedestrian/bike lanes, it wasn’t done in time to save the lives of the couple that was recently killed. It may never be known if a pedestrian path would have protected these two people from injury, but had the man driving the vehicle been able to stay awake, that may certainly have saved their lives. However, the four children of this couple are now orphans, and the family they have left may exercise their right to file a wrongful death claim against the party or parties responsible. A monetary award may help care for these children who no longer have parents to do it.

Source: wtkr.com, “Corolla pedestrian safety examined after fatal accident,” Becca Mitchell and Laurie Simmons, July 23, 2013