REHOBOTH BEACH, DE — A quiet Monday morning turned deadly when a pedestrian was fatally struck in the Walmart parking lot on Rehoboth Mall Boulevard, marking the second such tragedy to rock the coastal community in recent weeks. Delaware State Police responded to the scene at 8:02 a.m. to find the victim deceased near the store’s main entrance, their identity withheld pending family notification.
The fatal incident comes just three weeks after 63-year-old Debbie Priddy was killed in a nearly identical collision at the Weis supermarket parking lot in neighboring Lewes. Police have not disclosed whether speed, impairment, or visibility issues contributed to Monday’s crash, but confirmed the driver remained at the scene and is cooperating with investigators. Crime scene technicians spent hours documenting tire marks and measuring distances while reviewing Walmart’s extensive surveillance camera network.
“This is becoming an alarming pattern,” said City Councilwoman Susan McGuire, noting the parking lots along this commercial corridor were designed decades ago for far lighter traffic. The dual tragedies have exposed dangerous flaws in the area’s pedestrian infrastructure, with advocates pointing to inadequate lighting, poorly marked crosswalks, and confusing traffic flows that intensify during tourist season.
The victim’s sudden death has sent shockwaves through the tight-knit community, particularly among seniors who regularly walk the lots for exercise and socializing. Local safety groups are distributing reflective vests and petitioning for immediate improvements, including lower speed limits, raised crosswalks, and dedicated pedestrian pathways separated from vehicle traffic.
Delaware State Police continue their investigation alongside Walmart’s loss prevention team, scrutinizing every angle of the incident. Authorities urge witnesses or anyone with dashcam footage from the parking lot between 7:30-8:15 a.m. to contact Detective Mark Ellison at 302-555-6721.
As the coastal community mourns another preventable loss, the Rehoboth Beach planning commission has announced an emergency review of all major parking lot designs. Meanwhile, grief counselors are being made available at the local senior center, where many residents now fear performing what should be the simplest of errands.
