Police identify man in wheelchair killed in Fayetteville crash

Police on Sunday identified the man who was hit and killed when a car struck his wheelchair in Fayetteville on Friday afternoon.

The victim is Joseph Timothy Newman, 67, of Fayetteville, according to Fayetteville police.

The crash occurred at about 1:30 p.m. in the 300 block of North Eastern Boulevard.

Newman was trying to cross the street between Grove and Person streets when he was struck by a northbound Ford pickup, police said. The collision split the wheelchair into two pieces.

Newman was pronounced dead at Cape Fear Valley Medical Center.

Wendell Melvin, a Fayetteville city bus driver, said he used to drive the man around and knew him well.

"He was the kind of fellow you would enjoy talking to," Melvin said. "He was in the military some years ago, and his wife died about three years ago, and he would get on the bus and tie himself down and and unstrap himself. He was the kindest little fellow you'd want to see."

The pickup driver stopped after the crash. No charges have yet been filed.

Police closed Eastern Boulevard to northbound traffic for a couple of hours to investigate the crash.

Anyone with information about the crash is asked to call the Fayetteville Police Department’s Traffic Unit at 910-433-1807 or Crime Stoppers at 910-483-8477.