Woman's Death Sparks Call For More CrosswalksCharlotte, NC - Laura Gaffney says, “A lot of people kinda fly through this area." The North Charlotte resident issues a call for pedestrian safety after a driver struck and killed a woman trying to cross East 7th Street. Gaffney says, “Can we please get some more street lights, can we at least get one of the blinking lights." 31 year old Autumn Soyka was killed around one o'clock Sunday morning as she tried to cross East 7th near Jackalope Jacks. A note on the business' door expresses condolences to Soyka's family and asks for privacy for the time being. Megan Okkerse lives right down the street. She says traffic is often a concern because so many people walk to businesses up and down 7th Street and something needs to be done. Okkerse says, “There's always a need for more crosswalks." There is a cross walk near where Soyka was killed but it requires you walk roughly 300 yards and cross first one, then two, then three times before finally making it to the other side. 50 year old Steven Watts was driving the car that hit Soyka. He stuck around after the accident. Cops charged him with DWI, involuntary manslaughter, and license restriction violation. Mark Boudreaux lives in East Charlotte. He says, “If he had a designated driver maybe this lady would still be alive today." Back at Jackalope Jacks people who knew Autumn Soyka say she will be greatly missed. Gaffney says, “I can only imagine what her boyfriend's going through, what her family is going through and that's a lot of pain." 17 people were charged with DWI in Mecklenburg County on Saturday. |
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