CMPD Looking to Reduce Pedestrian Crash Deaths

CHARLOTTE, NC – CMPD is looking to reduce the number of people getting hit and killed by vehicles.

The department has investigated seven more deadly pedestrian crashes in 2017 than this time last year.

“It’s carried over from last year. These have been about the two highest years since 2000,” says CMPD Sgt. David Sloan.

We’ve seen several cases just in the past week.

Early Saturday a man in a wheelchair was struck and killed crossing West Sugar Creek Road. The driver took off and still hasn’t been found.

Later that day, two cars hit a person on Billy Graham Parkway. One of the cars didn’t stop.

And Monday morning, a driver with an icy windshield struck and killed a man on Monroe Road. The driver was charged.

“I just can’t see him actually getting hit by a car because he’s so vigilant,” says the victim’s brother Harold Wheeler.

Police say the crashes are spread out throughout the city.

One area of focus is bus stops, because often people aren’t willing to go all the way to the crosswalk.

They are also targeting areas with lots of pedestrians, like near UNC Charlotte and Central Piedmont Community College.