Dodge Avenger left roadway near Mena Drive and struck family walking with toy car
April 23, 2026 | Fayetteville, NC
The North Carolina State Highway Patrol is investigating a devastating pedestrian incident in Fayetteville that resulted in the death of a young child.
Cecilia Ballester Martinez, 2, died after being struck by a Dodge Avenger that left the roadway and hit a family walking along Pummill Road near Mena Drive in Fayetteville.
What Happened in the Crash?
An 18-year-old driver, Abinijah Lavon Lewis, was operating a white Dodge Avenger southbound on Pummill Road around noontime. While navigating a curve close to Mena Drive, the vehicle veered across the centerline, hit the shoulder, and collided with a pedestrian pushing her two young children in a plastic toy car.
The crash pinned the toy vehicle under the sedan, which then swerved right into a fence post before stopping. The collision occurred on a residential stretch known for pedestrian activity.
- Date and Time: April 23, shortly before noon
- Location: Pummill Road near Mena Drive, Fayetteville, NC
- Vehicle Involved: White Dodge Avenger
- Driver: Abinijah Lavon Lewis, 18, injured and hospitalized
- Pedestrians: Esperanza Ballester, 33, mother hospitalized, and Cecilia Ballester Martinez, 2, deceased, and Alexander Ballester Martinez, 4, critically injured and airlifted to UNC Hospitals in Chapel Hill
Witnesses are urged to reach out to the North Carolina State Highway Patrol with any details.
Why Do Pedestrian Accidents Like This Occur?
Pedestrian fatalities remain a pressing concern across U.S. roadways, often stemming from driver inattention, poor road design, or visibility issues. In the first half of 2024, about 3,304 pedestrians lost their lives in crashes, according to a report from the Governors Highway Safety Association.
Statistic |
Value |
Source |
|---|
Pedestrian Deaths (First Half 2024) |
3,304 |
Governors Highway Safety Association |
Increase from a Decade Ago |
48% |
Governors Highway Safety Association |
Annual U.S. Pedestrian Fatalities (Average) |
About 7,500 |
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration |
Common Causes |
Distracted Driving (25%), Speeding (30%) |
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention |
These figures highlight the need for heightened awareness and infrastructure improvements to protect vulnerable road users.
Legal Insights on Pedestrian Collisions
National legal analysts emphasize the importance of thorough investigations in pedestrian cases to establish accountability.
“In cases such as this, having the proper resources is extremely important to investigate a pedestrian accident and prove negligence,” said Candice Bond, managing partner at Bond Legal. “Road conditions, signage visibility, and road lighting are all possible contributing factors that are considered and must be thoroughly examined. These procedures are necessary for helping those who have lost a loved one receive the justice that they deserve.”
“An accident reconstruction team is sometimes needed to help piece together what happened. All of these resources are necessary for helping clients receive monetary compensation for damages or a loss following a collision,” added Bond, a national legal analyst for Newsline.
- Key Investigation Steps: Analyze road conditions, visibility, and lighting to identify negligence.
- Role of Specialists: Reconstruction teams aid in determining fault and supporting claims.
- Compensation Focus: Covers medical costs, lost income, and emotional impacts.
“It is almost always a driver’s duty to yield to any pedestrian,” said Stefano Formica, of counsel with Bond Legal. “Family members of wrongful death victims may seek damages for loss of income and companionship, pain and suffering, funeral expenses, and emotional distress following a tragic or catastrophic accident.”
“Serving as an advocate, an attorney can help compassionately guide a family through this difficult time while protecting their rights. Insurance companies often try to pressure victims to settle for a quick payout for far less than the case is worth. However, an attorney will vigorously advocate for their client to ensure that they are treated with respect and compensated fairly,” Formica noted.
For those affected, consulting legal professionals early can preserve evidence and maximize recovery options.
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If you or a family member has been affected by a similar incident, national legal analyst Candice Bond is available for a free consultation. Use the contact information provided on this page.
(Candice Bond, our national legal analyst, is a Managing Partner at Bond Legal. Newsline can and does use quotes from prior interviews with our analysts for our news articles. If you would like to contact Bond Legal to help you, please call 866-985-6515 or use the submission box found on this page. Legal analysts quoted may or may not be licensed in your state).