Woman in serious condition after being hit crossing street

A young woman is in serious condition, after being hit by a car while crossing the street early Wednesday morning.

Police say 20-year-old Jeremy Poteat was driving the car that hit Katelyn Drum at the corner of Market Street and Lullwater Drive.

Most people would think in a case like this, the driver is automatically at fault, but that is not always the case.

State law allows fault to be placed on the driver or the pedestrian.

It is called contributory negligence.

That means if either the pedestrian or the driver acted in a way that is at least one percent negligent, that person could be held liable for the entire accident.

At this point investigators do not believe speed or alcohol was a factor in the accident.

Jeremy Poteat was arrested for leaving the scene.

WWAY spoke with people who often cross Market and Lullwater. They have concerns about the busy intersection.

Tammy Corcoran said, “People don’t watch where they are going, and you’re standing out in the middle of the road. They don’t pay attention. It’s just not safe. Not safe at all.”

Attorney Thom Goolsby says North Carolina is one of just four states that enforce contributory negligence.