Driver Arrested Following Fatal Downtown Smithfield Pedestrian Crash

SMITHFIELD, N.C. – A 20-year-old Wayne County man has been arrested following the death of a 76-year-old woman who was struck by a pickup while walking in a downtown Smithfield crosswalk.

Selvin Adelso Vasquez-Perez, 20, of Seven Springs, was arrested Sept. 21 and charged with misdemeanor death by vehicle in the death of Virginia Tucker Lyon of Smithfield.

The charge stems from the Sept. 19 pedestrian crash at East Market and Second streets.

Lyon was reportedly walking north across East Market Street from South Second Street toward North Second Street when she was struck by a 2017 Chevrolet pickup driven by Vasquez-Perez.

According to court records, Vasquez-Perez was making a left turn from North Second Street onto eastbound U.S. 70 when the pickup struck Lyon in the marked crosswalk.

Lyon was transported to WakeMed where she later died.

According to the arrest warrant, investigators allege Vasquez-Perez failed to yield the right of way to a pedestrian in a crosswalk and was driving without an operator’s license. The warrant alleges those violations were the proximate cause of Lyon’s death.

Vasquez-Perez was released on a $1,500 secured bond. As a condition of his release he was ordered not to operate a motor vehicle.

Smithfield Police continue to investigate the fatal collision.