Sylva, NC (August 8, 2020) – The North Carolina State Highway Patrol is investigating following a fatal hit-and-run crash in Sylva. The crash took place in the 1600 block of U.S. 23 around 1:00 a.m. on Friday, August 7th.
Troopers responded to the scene in the southbound lanes of the roadway upon receiving reports of the crash. According to Trooper Murico Stephens, a pedestrian was walking in or near the roadway when they were struck by an unidentified vehicle. The pedestrian was found lying in the roadway and was pronounced dead by rescue workers. Authorities are still working to identify the deceased victim at this time.
The driver who caused the crash fled the scene before officers arrived. At this time, there is no information or a description of the vehicle that is being sought in connection with the crash. The incident caused the roadway to be closed for several hours. All lanes were reopened for traffic by 11:30 a.m. on Friday.
We wish to extend our deepest condolences to the family who lost their loved one in this tragic hit-and-run crash in Sylva.
Fatal Traffic Accidents in North Carolina 
A pedestrian crash in North Carolina can, and frequently does, have a devastating outcome for the victim. Last year in our state, more than 1,400 people were killed in all types of traffic accidents. Hit-and-run and pedestrian crashes contributed a substantial number of deaths to this total. These crashes are among the most severe and deadly incidents that we see on the roadways across our state. Drivers who choose to flee the scene of a crash will face criminal charges and also civil liability for the damages caused by their actions.
A hit-and-run driver often flees the scene knowing that their negligence has directly led to the death or serious injury of another person. These drivers are attempting to avoid legal responsibility for their actions. In most cases, the driver is eventually apprehended and brought to justice, however, a hit-and-run crash is a complicated legal case.
If you or a loved one have been a victim of a North Carolina hit-and-run accident, you should take action to protect your legal rights as soon as possible. Even if the suspect is never located, there may be compensation available. A skilled North Carolina personal injury attorney can help search for and locate all policies of insurance that might apply to your accident.
At Burton Law Firm, attorney Jason M. Burton takes pride in handling difficult matters for clients seeking recovery for their injuries. Mr. Burton possesses a broad array of skills and experience that are routinely used to help clients receive the compensation they need in a tough situation. We understand what you are going through and we want to help.
Our firm offers free consultations and case evaluations to all potential clients. To schedule your appointment to discuss your claim, please give us a call at (833) 623-0042.
Note: Burton Law Firm utilizes a variety of outside sources in the creation of these accident news posts. These sources include news bulletins, police reports, first-hand accounts, news stories, as well as additional outside sources. For this reason, the details surrounding this accident have not been independently verified by our office or writing staff. If you find information that is not correct about an accident that we have written about, please contact our firm as soon as possible so that we can promptly correct the information. If you would prefer that we remove the story, contact us directly and we will make every effort to remove the story in a timely manner.
Disclaimer: Our team of personal injury lawyers at Burton Law Firm has taken pride in being active members of our local business community for more than 8 years. We are always striving to improve the quality of life for our community members and improve the overall safety and well being of all North Carolinians. We hope that by providing this information about the dangers of driving that we will bring added awareness and drivers will use increased caution when operating a motor vehicle. Our thoughts are with everyone who may have been affected by this incident. This post is not a solicitation for business. None of the information in this post should be misconstrued as medical or legal advice. The photos in this post are not a depiction of the actual accident scene.
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