CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Since Sunday, there have been five confirmed pedestrian crashes in Charlotte, killing at least two people.
A car hit someone on South Boulevard near Greystone Road on Tuesday night, making them the second confirmed pedestrian crash in the same day. Medic reported the person was taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries.
The first reported crash on Tuesday was at the intersection of Sardis Crossing Drive and Galleria Boulevard around 3 P.M. That victim sustained minor injuries according to Medic.
The city of Charlotte's Vision Zero plan aims to prevent tragedies like these.
"Many people live in areas where they can't safely walk," Meg Fencil with Sustain Charlotte told WCNC Charlotte.
According to CMPD records, the two victims who were killed while crossing two different streets on Sunday were not using crosswalks.
"When we are walking, we should be using crosswalks," Fencil said. However, she added, "There are some cases where the nearest crosswalk might be half a mile away."
More mid-block crosswalks are being installed across the city to bridge the gap for pedestrians in between intersections. Fencil said they're desperately needed.
"Asking somebody to walk a half mile or a mile total, to cross the street is really putting a lot of burden on people who are just trying to get where they need to go," Fencil said.
Sustain Charlotte is part of the city’s Vision Zero Task Force, which is working to have zero traffic-related deaths in Charlotte by 2030.
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The city plans to do that by investing in public transit and improving infrastructure.
"Providing safer crossings, better sidewalks, better signalization, and also supporting policies that make it safer for people to get around; like 'no turn on red' in some locations," Fencil explained.
The Charlotte City Council is dedicating $50 million in this year's budget to improve and extend sidewalks. The city also has received federal grants to make safety improvements in Corridors of Opportunity, like Sugar Creek.
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