A 15-year-old Olympic High School student was struck by a 2017 Nissan Murano on Tuesday morning, March 27, while she was running to catch the bus.
According to Charlotte-Mecklenburg police, the accident happened on Youngblood Road and Buckthorne Ridge Lane.
The girl reportedly missed the bus around that arrived at 6 a.m. and was trying to catch up when she was severely hit by a vehicle. Neighbors and other students on the bus witnessed the incident.
The student, who has been identified as Zoe Alana Deen, was pronounced dead by doctors due to fatal injuries sustained from the wreck. Her family has been informed about her death, said the police.
Authorities are still investigating the incident as it is still unclear if the driver will face any charges.
“Speed does not appear to be a contributing factor in the crash,” police said.
The car involved in the crash remained on the scene. The driver of the Nissan, identified as Kevin Michael Signer, did not suffer any injuries.
Due to the incident, Youngblood Road was closed for some time between Buckthorn and Daufuskie Drive.
According to the reports, many parents have complained before about the lack of proper lighting on the road. The Youngblood Road is not well-lit, and people have suggested fixing the lighting on the road or moving the location of bus stops.
Authorities confirmed that the roadway does not have overhead street lights and the student was not wearing reflective clothing when she was hit. Also, the section of the roadway has no pedestrian signals or crosswalks.
Since the incident, support and counseling services have been offered to the student’s family.
“Our students embody our community’s hopes for the future and we join together today and in the coming weeks to offer comfort, support and sympathy during this difficult time,” statement from Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools said.
Our heartfelt condolences go out to Zoe’s family.
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