CLEVELAND COUNTY, N.C. — A family is moving to hold North Carolina transportation leaders responsible after Sarah Queen was hit and killed on the way to a county fair.
This week marks a year since the crash in Cleveland County.
The woman’s daughter, Jerrianne Queen, said the pain was so deep that her siblings and father felt that it was hard to imagine surviving the last 12 months with that hurt. She said now they at least know that some things may change, but the most important changes may not happen before the fair starts Thursday.
Sarah Queen stepped into a road on Oct. 1, 2025.
A courier hit and killed her as she crossed. He was charged with misdemeanor death by motor vehicle.
This year that date marks the start of the fair.
Jerrianne isn’t happy about that.
“Nothing has been done out at the fairgrounds that we could see to change the crosswalk or anything,” Queen said.
She said people told her this weekend someone put fresh paint on the crosswalk.
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In legal action filed against the NCDOT Queen’s attorney said there are no warnings of a crosswalk, no raised medians for pedestrian safety, and no stop or yield signs on a road that has 12,000 cars daily.
“They have more than just the Cleveland County Fair there,” said Queen. “They have events there throughout the year.”
She said the past year without her mother has been taxing for her and their entire family.
“It’s been horrible. Lots of little things that my mom did that we don’t have,” said Queen. “I don’t go by there. I haven’t been there since she got killed.”
They have filed lawsuits against operators of the fair, the parent company for the courier that hit Queen, and now the DOT.
“It’s just justice that she didn’t die in vain, that hopefully nobody else will ever get hurt there,” Queen said.
The DOT said they can’t comment on ongoing legal matters, but their attorneys can respond in court.
Channel 9 talked to one of Sarah’s friends.
She said she will be out there Thursday, and crossing that road maybe one of the hardest things she will do that day.
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