Deputy Was Speeding at Time of Fatal Pedestrian Accident
Posted January 18, 2008 7:17 p.m. EST
Raleigh, N.C. — A Franklin County sheriff's deputy was traveling more than 10 miles over the speed limit when she hit and killed a pedestrian, the North Carolina Highway Patrol said Friday.
Deputy Crystal Mitchell was on a non-emergency call New Year's Eve when she struck and killed Marcus Coppedge, 23, on N.C. Highway 39 in Ingleside.
A Highway Patrol report also showed Coppedge was intoxicated at the time.
Franklin County Sheriff Pat Green said Mitchell was distracted by a group of men gathered in front of a nearby convenience store at the time of the accident.
Mitchell remains on paid administrative leave.