Couple Dies in Tragic Pedestrian Crash on East King Street in Boone, North Carolina (NC)

BOONE, NC- The times-news.com writes that a couple from Frostburg died this week in a crash that occurred while they were walking across the street. The driver who struck the victim is now facing charges for drunk driving.*

The victims, including a 54-year-old man, and a 52-year-old woman, were crossing the street at East King Street and Forest Hills Drive when a 2016 Nissan passenger car struck them. The driver was identified as a 21-year-old man from Durham. The car was heading eastbound through the intersection when the driver collided with the victims, who were crossing in a marked and designated crosswalk. 

Investigators continue to work to find out the cause of the fatal crash and believe that additional charges are likely once the investigation is completed. 

More than 6,000 people are killed in pedestrian crashes every year. These numbers have been increasing annually for several years, although in 2019, the total number of victims dropped slightly if early estimates are correct. 

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) writes that drivers should always be on the outlook for pedestrians and should be extremely cautious in places where pedestrians are likely to be present. Speeding can increase the risk of being in a pedestrian accident. Of course, alcohol and drugs never mix with operating a car, and drivers should not get behind the wheel if they are at all under the influence. 

When it comes to drunk driving, statistics indicate that North Carolina is worse than most other states. One study placed North Carolina in seventh place for the worst states for drunk driving. South Carolina also made the top ten and ranked right after North Carolina in eighth place. 

Overall, the southern part of the United States tends to rank poorly in terms of drunk driving crashes.

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Sources:

https://www.times-news.com/news/frostburg-couple-killed-in-n-c-accident/article_c7b508e2-efcf-11ea-8ac2-ffa2d7cc6729.html

https://www.nhtsa.gov/road-safety/pedestrian-safety

https://www.nhtsa.gov/press-releases/early-estimates-traffic-fatalities-2019#:~:text=View%20the%202019%20Early%20Estimates,in%20motor%20vehicle%20traffic%20crashes.

https://www.wect.com/2019/11/20/carolinas-fall-into-top-list-worst-states-drunk-driving/