A child has died after being struck by a car while crossing Lowdermilk Street near Cameron Avenue in Greensboro on Monday night, according to police. The driver, identified as 59-year-old Jimmy Carmichael Jr. of Greensboro, was behind the wheel of a northbound Chrysler Sebring when the child ran across the street and was hit.
Greensboro police said District 2 patrol officers responded to the area of Lowdermilk Street and Cameron Avenue at about 6:55 p.m., according to abc45.com. The Greensboro Police Department said officers were called in reference to a collision involving a pedestrian just before 7 p.m. on Lowdermilk Street near Cameron Avenue, per wxii12.com.
The child was taken by ambulance to a local hospital, where they later died from injuries sustained in the collision, the station's report states. Police said impairment was not a factor in the crash, per the same account.
Driver Faces Four Separate Charges
Carmichael was charged with driving while his license was revoked, operating a vehicle with no insurance, expired registration, and expired inspection, the article notes. Under North Carolina law, driving with a revoked license is addressed by North Carolina General Statute § 20-28, while the requirement that vehicles carry valid inspection is covered under North Carolina General Statute § 20-183.4C.
The Greensboro Police Department's Crash Reconstruction Unit is continuing to investigate the collision. Police said further details were not available for public release at this time.
Part of a Troubling Pattern on City Streets
The crash adds to a grim tally for Greensboro this year. The city has experienced a 41% increase in traffic fatalities, totaling 25 traffic-related deaths, including seven pedestrians, according to abc45.com. In response, the Greensboro Police Department launched its “Warmer Days. Safer Roadways.” campaign, directing members of its Motor Unit, Traffic Safety Unit and Patrol Division to focus on speeding, distracted driving and safe-movement violations.
A draft Comprehensive Transportation Safety Action Plan from the Greensboro Urban Area Metropolitan Planning Organization aims to cut traffic deaths and serious injuries in half by 2035 and eventually reach zero, as reported by rhinotimes.com. That plan found that pedestrians account for just 1.5% of crashes but 26% of fatalities, and identified speeding as the single most significant contributor to fatal and serious-injury crashes region-wide. Only 29% of survey respondents said they feel safe walking in Greensboro, the outlet reported.
Other Recent Pedestrian Deaths
Monday's crash follows other fatal pedestrian collisions in Greensboro in recent months. Isaac Hamilton Benton, 34, of Greensboro, died on Sept. 13 after being struck by a vehicle on U.S. 29 North, according to greensboro.com. On Oct. 11, a 21-year-old Concord man died after being struck near South Edgeworth Street and West McGee Street, in a crash that led to a DWI charge for the driver, per wxii12.com's separate report on that case.
