Woman hit, killed by pickup truck after pushing child out of the way

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Charlotte-Mecklenburg police said a woman saved a child before she was hit and killed by a pickup truck Thursday night in northwest Charlotte.

Police were called to the scene just before 8:30 p.m. on Oakdale Road near the inner loop of Interstate 485.

According to investigators, a Chevrolet Silverado was heading north on Oakdale Road when a boy ran across the road chasing after a ball.

Police said 51-year-old Lydia Morales Garcia saw what was happening and ran toward the child who was a family friend. She was able to push him out of the way before she was hit by the pickup truck.

Paramedics rushed her to the hospital where she died.

Channel 9 learned that Garcia had just celebrated her 51st birthday 11 days ago. She was a grandmother who had recently survived a battle with COVID-19.

“It’s horrible. It’s a horrible experience for a family to endure any kind of loss like that, I feel very very sorry for them,” Garcia’s neighbor Gina Sirhan said.

The child was also taken to the hospital by family members for precautionary reasons but was OK.

The driver remained at the scene, according to police. Detectives said the driver was not impaired and that speed was not a factor in the crash. No charges were filed.

The collision happened along a dark stretch of road which was wet because it had been raining, police said.

Check back with wsoctv.com for updates.

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