Teen Driver Cited After Pedestrian Killed on I-40 Ramp

Early on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, Greensboro police responded to a fatal crash near the ramp from Interstate 40 West to I-785 North after a 19-year-old driver in an Infiniti G37 struck a pedestrian who was walking on the highway. The pedestrian was pronounced dead at the scene. Police said the person was illegally walking on the interstate ramp.

Authorities cited the driver for violating a learner's permit restriction by operating the vehicle without a supervising driver present. Police reported no obvious contributing factors at the scene and have assigned the Greensboro Police Department Crash Reconstruction Unit to investigate the circumstances and sequence of the crash.

The immediate consequence for motorists was the tragic loss of life and the likely short-term traffic disruptions typical of serious collisions on high-speed ramps. For families and the wider community, the crash underscores the dangers of pedestrians on limited-access roadways, where speed, lack of pedestrian infrastructure and reduced sight lines create deadly conditions. Walking on interstate ramps is illegal and hazardous, and this incident may prompt renewed attention to public education about safe travel and the rules governing interstate pedestrian access.

The citation of the 19-year-old driver for a learner's permit restriction violation highlights enforcement and supervision issues tied to new drivers. Learner permit rules require a supervising driver for a reason: inexperience behind the wheel can compound unexpected hazards. The case may lead drivers, parents and guardians in Guilford County to review permit requirements and ensure that young drivers are accompanied as required.

Longer term policy questions arise for local officials and transportation planners about preventing pedestrian access to interstate ramps, improving signage and lighting on nearby corridors, and ensuring safe alternatives for people who must travel on foot. While the Crash Reconstruction Unit continues its work to determine what happened, the episode is likely to prompt conversations among public safety officials, transit planners and community groups about how to reduce similar occurrences.

The Greensboro Police Department continues to investigate. Residents who observe pedestrians on interstate ramps or other dangerous roadway conditions should call 911 to report them so officers can respond and reduce the risk of further tragedies.