STATESVILLE, N.C. — A community hopes a new skateboard park coming to Statesville this summer will give everyone a safe place to go after Billy “Jude” McAlpin, 18, was struck and killed by a car Saturday morning while on a skateboard.
McAlpin was skating to work at about 6:10 a.m. when he was hit on Davie Avenue near Ramsey Court. He died at the scene.
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City officials said the Statesville Housing Authority and Iredell-Statesville Community Enrichment Corporation are building a new skatepark near Allison Street and Shelton Avenue.
“I’m just really glad because it’s close,” said Michael Wedding, a skateboarder. “And we don’t have to go 25 minutes away anymore to be able to skateboard safely. We won’t have to worry about incidents like this happening.”
The skatepark in Statesville is expected to open in July.
There is a celebration of life for McAlpin on Sunday at Red Buffalo Brewing in Statesville.
The driver stayed on the scene when officers arrived.
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