On Friday night, a terrible tragedy occurred in a normally bustling Walmart parking lot in North Tonawanda, New York. Faye Henner, a 74-year-old North Tonawanda resident, was killed when an SUV hit her while she was crossing the store's parking lot using an approved crosswalk. The neighborhood is still reeling from the death of a beloved local, and the tragedy has reignited concerns about pedestrian safety in busy places like parking lots where such things are often overlooked.
Just before dark, when visibility starts to fade but places like this are still lively and busy, the accident happened while the parking lot was packed with evening shoppers. North Tonawanda Police Chief Keith Glass provided the first details of the incident, noting that Haner was hit by an SUV while using a designated crosswalk. The 56-year-old driver of the car – whose identity has not yet been released – was allegedly negligent in giving way to Haner in the terrible incident that led to her death. When the rescue forces arrived, Haner was stuck under the car and he was pronounced dead at the scene despite their best attempts to save her.
The store's operations were abruptly halted due to the incident, and law enforcement officials immediately searched the area and began an investigation. While police and forensic teams processed the area, collected evidence and spoke with witnesses who were there during the horrific incident, the Walmart was briefly closed. The police claim that the driver of the SUV is helping them completely, but it is still unclear how a tragic mistake could have happened in the area intended for pedestrians.
