High school student dies after being hit by car in east Charlotte, same spot as 2012 accident

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WBTV) - A high school student who was critically injured after being hit by a car in east Charlotte Thursday afternoon succumbed to his injuries on Saturday.

According to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, the incident happened near the intersection of Eastway Drive and E. Sugar Creek Rd. around 2 p.m. Officers responded to the scene and found Israel David Plyler lying in the road with visible injuries.

Police say the initial investigation revealed that the 16-year-old Garringer High School student was crossing the road in a marked crosswalk when he was hit by car.

Authorities say witnesses stated that the driver had the green light and the student, though in a marked crosswalk, did not have the right of way. The driver remained on scene.

It’s the same intersection where another Garringer High School student died while crossing the street. A car hit and killed Brittany Palmer in March of 2012 while she was crossing the street.

“I don’t want to know how they feel, but I know exactly how they feel,” said Brittany Palmer’s mom, Katrina White.

After her daughter died, White fought alongside the school district and city to implement changes to the intersection. They added crosswalks and pedestrian lights to make it safer. She was heartbroken to find out another student died even with the safety improvements.

White spent the weekend writing a letter to the Plyler family, as she is one of the few people who knows exactly what the Plyler family is going through.

“I have been praying for you and your family since before I even knew your name, before I knew if it was a boy or a girl who was hit," she wrote. “I am so very sorry for your huge loss.”

Israel Plyler’s dad posted a message about his son on Facebook saying he was a bright light and the world is darker now without him in it.

White now said it’s up to drivers to be safer while driving through the intersection.

“We have to be vigilant, we have to watch. From children to teenagers we just have to watch," she said.

Police say the driver was screened for impairment, and impairment is not a suspected factor in the incident. Police say there is also no initial evidence of excessive speed contributing to the collision. However, the incident remains under active investigation.

Any person who witnessed this collision or has information about this case is asked to call detectives at 704-432-2169 or Crime Stoppers at 704-334-1600.

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