Arleen Patricia Paul Killed in Leland Pedestrian Accident
The 76-year-old Brunswick Forest resident was struck by a turning SUV in a grocery store parking lot
Arleen Patricia Paul, 76, of Brunswick Forest, was killed in a pedestrian cras in a Lowe's Foods parking lot at 1152 East Cutlar Crossing on May 28, according to the Leland Police Department.
Paramedics arrived at the scene shortly after the 3:51 p.m. collision, though the victim succumbed to her injuries.
The crash occurred when a 36-year-old woman driving a 2019 Toyota Highlander began making a left turn in the parking lot. Investigators said the driver initially stopped after seeing the pedestrian walking. However, as the driver completed the turn, she told police she did not see the woman due to a blind spot created by the SUV's A-pillar.
The vehicle struck Paul at an estimated 7 mph.
Police noted no suspicion of drugs or alcohol involvement.
The District Attorney's Office is scheduled to meet with Leland police next week to review the case and determine whether charges are warranted. The crash highlights a persistent statewide danger, as North Carolina Department of Transportation data shows the state consistently records high pedestrian accident rates relative to national safety rankings.
What is the status of the Leland police investigation?
While preliminary reports indicate the driver was not impaired, investigators will examine the specific mechanics of the left turn and the driver's line of sight. The District Attorney's Office is reviewing the findings to determine if the driver's failure to yield warrants criminal charges. Families navigating the sudden loss of a loved one often face a complex path to justice while waiting for official determinations.
How do vehicle blind spots contribute to pedestrian accidents?
In pedestrian accidents such as this, traffic safety analysts note that vehicle design often plays a critical role in visibility.
Candice Bond, managing partner at Bond Legal, said, "Bigger vehicles are genuinely harder to control around pedestrians. The blind spots are real, the stopping distances are longer, and the impact when something goes wrong is devastating."
"Families often don't realize how much documentation exists after these crashes. An attorney can get into those records early and make sure nothing gets buried or overlooked," added Bond, who is also a national legal analyst for Accident News.
Data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration indicates that pedestrian death remain persistently high nationwide, with more than 7,000 pedestrians killed in 2024. Parking lot environments, where vehicles frequently make low-speed turns across pedestrian paths, require heightened driver vigilance to overcome structural blind spots like A-pillars.
North Carolina wrongful death statute
Under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 28A-18-2, surviving family members may file a wrongful death action. North Carolina applies contributory negligence. The statute of limitations is 2 years.
Recoverable damages may include loss of financial support, loss of services and companionship, funeral expenses, and the estate's losses.
According to Stefano Formica, a national legal analyst for Accident News and of counsel at Bond Legal, "When a crash turns fatal, surviving families are suddenly dealing with grief and a legal process at the same time. That is an incredibly hard place to be. An attorney can stay on top of the investigation, handle the pressure from insurance companies, and make sure the family's rights are protected from the very beginning."