If an employee is hit by a passerby while arriving at work early in the parking lot, what is the status of the injury?

The injury sustained by the employee in the scenario described is compensable because it occurred in the context of an employment-related activity. When employees are on their way to or from work, they are generally covered under workers' compensation if they are in a place where they are expected to be—such as the employer's parking lot. This includes injuries that occur while arriving at work, as long as the employee is not engaging in any personal deviation that would take them outside the scope of employment.

In this instance, being struck by a passerby in the employer's parking lot is considered to be an injury arising out of and in the course of employment. Therefore, the worker is entitled to benefits under the workers' compensation system. The other options would suggest scenarios that either do not fall under the workers' compensation guidelines or imply a lack of connection to the work environment, which is not applicable here.