Pedestrian Struck By Vehicle On Franklin Street

Chapel Hill police responded on Thursday morning to another report of a pedestrian being struck by a car.

The incident occurred at 11:47 am on East Franklin Street between Elliott Road and Estes Drive. Police say 21-year-old Scott Imura of Chapel Hill was in a crosswalk when he was struck by a Honda minivan driven by 42-year-old Courtney Ritter of Pittsboro.

Imura was transported to UNC Hospitals with minor injuries; Ritter was cited for failing to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk and failing to reduce speed to avoid a crash.

The Chapel Hill Police Department is actively engaged in an ongoing program to improve pedestrian and bicycle safety in town. This is already the second reported incident of a pedestrian struck by a vehicle on Franklin Street this month.

The full statement from Chapel Hill Police is below:

At 11:47 today, November 13th, 2014. The Chapel Hill Police Department responded to a report of a pedestrian that had been struck by a vehicle at 1520 East Franklin Street. Preliminary investigation revealed that Scott Imura, 21, of Chapel Hill was crossing East Franklin Street within a marked crosswalk when he was struck by a 2007 Honda Odyssey Minivan driven by Courtney Ritter, 42, of Pittsboro. Ms. Ritter was issued citations for failing to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk and failure to reduce speed to avoid a crash. Mr. Imura was transported to UNC Hospital for minor injuries by Orange County EMS.

The Chapel Hill Police Department participates in the statewide “Watch for Me NC” program. The program aims to reduce pedestrian and bicycle injuries and deaths through a comprehensive, targeted approach of public education and police enforcement.

For more information about “Watch for Me NC” you may visit http://www.watchformenc.org.