Beloved Concord resident hit, killed by SUV while walking to work

CONCORD, N.C. — Residents in Concord are mourning a man hit and killed while walking to work Thursday morning.

Melvin Caldwell was crossing Branchview Drive at Cabarrus Avenue around 7 a.m. when he was struck and killed by a Chevrolet Trailblazer.

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Neighbors said Caldwell was a fixture in Concord and known as "Mr. Downtown."

They said Caldwell would often do odd jobs throughout the city, like wash windows and help clean yards.

"Melvin was someone who was definitely part of the fabric of downtown Concord," said Councilman Brian King. "He would greet you when you walked by. He would know your name, he would remember your name."

Caldwell had just started working at Wayside Restaurant. The owner told Channel 9 the 61-year-old was heading in for his shift when he was hit.

"It was directly in front of the restaurant. He was walking to work at 7 a.m.," said Jason Pressley, owner of Wayside.

Wayside's Restaurant remained closed for the day Thursday.

Community members said they'll miss Caldwell's smiling face around town.

"It's just going to be different when you walk to the bank and not see Melvin there to say hello to you," said King.

Police said the driver of the Chevrolet Trailblazer has been cited for No Operators License.

Cox Media Group