Driver Faces Charges After 76-Year-Old Pedestrian Is Killed in Cary Crosswalk

Cary, North Carolina — August 28, 2026 — According to ABC 11, Cary police have filed charges against the driver involved in a fatal collision that killed 76-year-old Soile Lazarz while she was taking her regular morning walk.

Authorities said 49-year-old Ayaz Pathan has been charged with misdemeanor death by vehicle, failure to reduce speed to avoid striking a person, and failure to yield to a pedestrian in a marked crosswalk.

Lazarz was struck by a vehicle on Ederlee Drive near Regency Parkway. Her death has prompted an outpouring of support from the surrounding community, with flowers and a cross placed near the collision site. Her husband and daughter visited the growing memorial.

The charges come as nearby residents continue to raise concerns about traffic conditions around the crosswalk.

Several residents said vehicles routinely travel through the area at speeds that make crossing difficult. Neighbor Craig Karson estimated many motorists travel around 45 mph and noted that the crossing currently lacks a traffic signal to alert approaching drivers.

Christian Marks, who regularly crosses there, described the roadway as unpredictable. Although signs mark the crossing, he said some motorists stop for pedestrians while others continue through, particularly when approaching downhill.

Those concerns were evident as pedestrians, cyclists, runners, and dog walkers continued to use the crossing. While some motorists slowed or stopped to allow people to cross, others reportedly did not.

Residents have also taken their concerns to Cary officials, asking the town to reconsider the locations and designs of area crosswalks and to explore safer ways for people in nearby neighborhoods to access the Greenway.

The North Carolina Department of Transportation said the Town of Cary has previously received complaints about the Ederlee Drive crossing and has improved its current configuration.

Additional changes are planned. A funded project would add a Pedestrian Hybrid Beacon to the crossing, which is designed to help pedestrians cross busy roadways by signaling approaching motorists. The project is currently expected to begin in fall 2028, although officials indicated construction could potentially start earlier.

In the meantime, neighbors say they are exercising additional caution when crossing Ederlee Drive.

The charges against Pathan follow the initial investigation into the collision. Police had not announced charges immediately after Lazarz’s death.

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Notes: Our team created this post using secondary sources and has not independently verified all the facts surrounding the accident. If you find any incorrect details, please contact the Ramsay Law Firm so we can update the post with the most accurate information. We will remove this post if requested.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this post is not intended to be legal or medical advice and is not a solicitation for business. The photograph used in this post is not representative of this accident. If you are injured in an accident, seek medical attention immediately, then speak to a North Carolina personal injury lawyer as soon as possible.