A 75-year-old Smithfield woman died after being struck by a vehicle in the parking lot of the Kroger at Smithfield Plaza on Thursday afternoon, according to Virginia State Police. The woman, identified as Janet Hope Edwards, was hit at approximately 2 p.m. and suffered fatal injuries.
State police responded to the pedestrian-involved crash in the parking lot at 1282 Smithfield Plaza, according to WAVY. Edwards, a longtime resident of the town, was struck in the lot outside the grocery store, the outlet reported, and she did not survive her injuries.
The driver of the vehicle was identified only as a 70-year-old woman, per the same WAVY report, which noted she did not sustain any injuries in the crash. The Virginian-Pilot separately reported that the vehicle involved was a Nissan Rogue, though the driver's identity has not been released by investigators.
Investigation Remains Open
Virginia State Police said the incident remains under investigation, and no further details have been released about how the crash unfolded. No charges against the driver had been announced as of Thursday.
The crash marks the second fatal pedestrian incident reported in the Smithfield area within recent months. In May, a pedestrian attempting to cross the intersection of Benns Church and Brewers Neck boulevards near Riverside Smithfield Hospital died after being struck by a vehicle, according to The Smithfield Times.
What Comes Next
Details about Edwards and the circumstances leading up to the crash remain limited as the investigation continues. Virginia State Police have not indicated when the inquiry might conclude or whether additional information will be released to the public.
