Highway Patrol Recreates Fatal Accident Involving Deputy

Louisburg, N.C. — A Franklin County sheriff's deputy remains on paid leave pending the outcome of a Highway Patrol investigation into a fatal accident that killed a pedestrian.

Accident investigators on Wednesday reconstructed how Marcus Coppedge, 23, was struck and killed by Deputy Crystal Mitchell on News Year's Eve.

Family members, who said Coppedge was crossing N.C. Highway 39 to go to a convenience store in Ingleside, said they believe Mitchell was speeding in the 45 mph zone. The Highway Patrol said its investigation could take up to a month.

Mitchell had no comment, referring all questions to Franklin County Sheriff Pat Green.

"I'm deeply sorry that this happened," he said. "The deputy is deeply sorry. She's very upset and hurt."

Green said Mitchell, a three-year veteran of the force, told him she was distracted by a group of young men gathered in front on the 4 Stars Grocery.

Witness Abdul Ali said the accident happened in what seemed to be an instant.

"If I was the sheriff, I couldn't even recognize somebody running this fast," he said.

Meanwhile Wednesday, family members, including Coppedge's mother who witnessed the accident, continued to grieve.

"She put him in her arms, and she told him, 'Marcus, don't leave me. Marcus, don't leave me,'" the victim's aunt, Daphine Coppedge, said. "She said his eyes went back up inside his head, and she knew he was dead."

A wake for Coppedge is scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday at Richardson Funeral Home in Louisburg. His funeral is 3 p.m. Saturday at Louisburg High School.

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Latest Comments

Was he wearing dark clothes or did he have any bright colors on so he could be seen....or he should have atleast smiled running across the street.

SouthernBornSouthernBreed
January 3, 2008 8:21 p.m.

Tragedy all the way around in this case. There are clearly no winners.

Panther
January 3, 2008 12:53 p.m.

"I seem to recall from my Driver's Ed training, which was quite a while ago, that the pedestrian always had right away....am I wrong?"

Pedestrians have the right of way at marked crosswalks, intersections without crosswalks and crosswalks with the stop and go signs. All other times they must yield to cars.

CSMs Alter Ego
January 3, 2008 12:05 p.m.

lightfoot - depends on the sight distance in that location and lighting. Probably gonna be a call the DA has to make.

kewlmom - pedestrian only has the right of way in a marked crosswalk and only when they are not crossing against a signal for them.

For a pedestrain to insist on the right of way is like a car insisting on the right of way at a train crossing. It's never a good idea.

lizard
January 3, 2008 10:21 a.m.

She should be treated like any other person that becomes distracted while driving and has an accident. If he darted out in front of her, then she wouldn’t be at fault. But it seems she’s already admitted to being distracted, thus wasn’t paying full attention to her driving. If we did that, I’m pretty sure we’d be charged.