NC State assistant professor dies after being hit by car, driver facing charges
RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- An assistant professor at North Carolina State University was killed after being hit by a car while walking in an intersection.
On Tuesday at 6:11 p.m., Raleigh police responded to a car crash involving a person walking at Pogue Street and Clark Avenue.
When officers arrived, they found 41-year-old Natalia Duque-Wilckens with serious injuries.
She was taken to the hospital, where she later died.
"We are deeply saddened by the loss of our colleague Natalia Duque-Wilckens, and our thoughts are with her family and friends," NC State said in a statement to ABC11. "Support and resources are being provided to those in our community impacted by this loss."
Duque-Wilckens was an assistant professor in NC State's Department of Biological Sciences. She received her doctorate at the University of Chile and ran a lab focusing on neuro-immune research.
"It's very sad to see something like this happen," said Shahad Alghandou, who was walking to campus.
"There's a bunch of cops that blocked it, and I saw a truck over here," said Selma Purmul, describing what she saw.
"It is definitely upsetting in its realization it can happen to any of us, professors and students alike. We all pass by here like every day. Some people really do with speed on these roads," said Zainah Al-bataineh.
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The driver of the vehicle, 19-year-old Jack Etheridge, stayed at the scene and was not injured. He has been charged with misdemeanor death by motor vehicle.
According to court documents, Etheridge failed to yield while turning at a stop or yield sign.
Students said they see a larger issue with the lack of speed control and lighting options.
"I think something needs to be done here to make it easier for like commuters like us to get by without having a chance of getting hit," said Selma Purmul.
Zainah Al-bataineh added, "I think that should be treated as if it were a campus, and like maybe crosswalks with lights would help, like they do inside campus as well."
Monique Nicastro, a college instructor, said she has had some close calls.
"I've had people not stop for me many times. One time at night, either somebody didn't see me, or they saw me and they wanted to make a point, and they actually sped up in the intersection. I had to jump out of the way. It was pretty scary," she said.
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