Police said 49-year-old Ayaz Pathan was charged with misdemeanor death by vehicle, failure to reduce speed to avoid colliding with a person, and failure to yield to a pedestrian in a marked crosswalk.
The victim, 76-year-old Soile Lazars, was killed during her daily morning walk. A growing memorial stands near the site of the crash, where neighbors have placed flowers and a cross in her honor. Her husband and daughter visited the memorial Friday afternoon.
Residents who live near the crosswalk said drivers frequently travel too fast through the area, making it difficult for pedestrians to cross safely.
"It is fast," neighbor Craig Karson said.
Karson said the roadway's speed and lack of a signalized crossing create challenges for pedestrians.
"I think everybody goes 45, which would be hard to stop right at a crosswalk, and there's no light. So, you know, other places I live, they tend to have a signal for a crosswalk like that," he said.
Neighbors voice concerns about crosswalk
Neighbors said they have raised concerns about the crosswalk for years. Those concerns intensified after Lazars' death. Cary police said the driver failed to reduce speed before the crash.
Christian Marks, who regularly uses the crossing, said pedestrians often face uncertainty when attempting to cross.
"Typically, when I cross this area right here, it's a very busy area. There are signs posted here. So sometimes people will stop. Others, if they're coming down this hill, might not. So it's very tricky to make this crossing here," Marks said.
On Friday evening, pedestrians, runners, dog walkers and bicyclists continued using the crosswalk. Some drivers slowed and stopped, while others did not.
Frustrated by ongoing safety concerns, neighbors brought their concerns to town officials.
"I just don't feel like that's a safe position," one resident said during a town hall meeting.
The resident also urged officials to consider changes to the area.
"I would recommend revisiting the positioning of crosswalks in the area and adding an alternative for people to use the Greenway or access the Greenway from the residential area," the resident said.
According to the North Carolina Department of Transportation, the Town of Cary has received complaints about the Ederlee Drive crossing and has upgraded the crosswalk in recent years to its current configuration.
An NCDOT representative said a funded project is planned to upgrade the crossing with a Pedestrian Hybrid Beacon. The project is scheduled to begin in the fall of 2028, though officials said work could start sooner.
Until further changes are made, neighbors said they are focused on taking extra caution when crossing the roadway.
"Being a little bit more careful," Marks said.
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