Tag: monthly crash review ’23

Statewide Fatal Crashes In MA, July 2023

Statewide Fatal Crashes In MA, July 2023

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Each month, we post about the fatal crashes in Massachusetts from the previous month, and share any trends that we see. For the full list of monthly posts, head here.

Last month, we took a look at crashes listed in the MassDOT Crash Portal in June; three were identified as people walking. In this post, we’ll look at crashes in MA in July 2023. The information in the chart below is compiled from news reports, and was checked against the MassDOT Crash Portal Dashboard “Fatal Crash Information.” Any Google Street View images included below use the address listed in the crash portal.

  • Of the 32 fatal crashes in Massachusetts in July in the MassDOT Crash portal, 3 were identified as people walking.
  • The average age of pedestrians hit & killed in July was 60.
  • At least 1 was a hit and run, where the driver left the scene after striking someone.
Date 7/1/2023, 5:06 PM
Location 3 Bartlett St.
Town Merrimac
Type PEDESTRIAN
Age 93
Sex M

The Boston Herald reports that 93-year old Robert Whitcomb was struck and killed by a juvenile driving a vehicle near Robert’s residence on Bartlett Street. Robert may have been on a tricycle when he was struck. (This crash may be re-categorized in the future, but is currently listed pedestrian crash in the database.)

According to the MassDOT Road Inventory, Bartlett Street is under local jurisdiction. It is two-way street with no sidewalks. The speed limit is unclear, as it is not listed and not viewable nearby on street view. The default speed limit in Merrimac is 30mph. Communities in Massachusetts can opt-in to a 25mph default speed limit and create 20mph Safety Zones.

Bartlett Street does not have a Google Street View image available, but the nearby intersection of Broad/Mill/Bartlett shows a “slow” sign at the start of Bartlett Street.

Date 7/18/2023, 9:30 PM
Location 165 Wood Ave.
Town Boston
Type PEDESTRIAN
Age 4
Sex M

The Boston Globe reports 4-year old Ivan Pierre was struck and killed on Wood Avenue in Boston’s Hyde Park neighborhood near his family’s home. The driver, Olguens Joseph, left the scene after striking Ivan; he turned himself in almost two weeks later. From the article:

Boston police released a video of the car that allegedly struck and killed Ivan Pierre. The nine-second video shows the vehicle running a stop sign at the corner of Wood Avenue and Safford Street in the moments before Pierre was killed near his family’s home. The intersection is less than 500 feet from the house.

According to the MassDOT Road Inventory, Wood Avenue is under local jurisdiction. It is a two way street, with 1 travel lane in each direction. There is a sidewalk on each side. The speed limit is 25mph.
There have been 2 other fatal crashes near that crash site on Wood Avenue in Hyde Park. On April 9, 2017 was a fatal motorcycle crash at the corner of Wood/Mariposa; and on August 11, 2020 there was a fatal vehicle crash. Since the crash in 2017, the Boston Transportation Department has implemented a number of street design changes to try and control speed and vehicle movement at wide intersections along the corridor (like Wood/Tacoma, Wood/Farrar, Wood/Mariposa), including flex posts and paint to force drivers to slow down when taking turns or navigating curves on the hilly roadway. There aren’t many crosswalks to get across Wood; this is likely due to poor sight lines with the street’s curves and hilly terrain.
Earlier this year, the City of Boston published a speed hump eligibility map as part of a safety surge effort.
Wood Avenue is not indicated as a street that qualifies for speed humps, but a number of the side streets are eligible for a future phase. It is possible that neighborhood arterials have not been listed on this general map when considering all roadways in the city in order to allow for a potential quicker rollout in order to strike a balance between implementing traffic calming and not impact any operations of MBTA bus routes or fire/emergency operations; it is also possible speed humps on arterials instead could be implemented on a case-by-case basis. Creating safer/slower streets could make it so fire/emergency responders would not need to respond to as many traffic crashes.

Date 7/23/2023, 3:50 PM
Location McGrath Hwy. + Newcomb St.
Town Quincy
Type PEDESTRIAN
Age 83
Sex M

The Patriot Ledger reports that a pedestrian was hit by a car and suffered life-threatening injuries. The MassDOT crash portal dataset indicates that an 83-year old man died.

A damaged silver sedan was at the intersection, Patriot Ledger media partner WCVB reported. Vegetables from a bag were strewn on the road where the pedestrian was hit.

Quincy police said the driver stayed at the scene. It is unclear whether charges will be filed.

The victim’s name will not be released, police said.

According to the MassDOT Road Inventory, Newcomb Street and McGrath Highway are both under local jurisdiction. Newcomb Street is a two way street with one lane in each direction. There is a sidewalk on each side. McGrath Highway is a divided two-way street, with two lanes in each direction. There is a sidewalk on each side. There is a crosswalk with RRFB flashers. The speed limit for each street is unclear, as they are both listed as 99 and there are no speed limit signs viewable nearby on Google Street View.

Updates

If you have an update about a community member who was killed in one of these crashes, please contact Brendan so we can update our 2023 list. WalkBoston has maintained a list each year since 2016, pulling the information from news reports, social media, and from people like you that share the information with us.

Yearly trackers:  |  ||||| 2022 | 2023

Report: Fatal Pedestrian Crashes in MA (2021)
Report: Fatal Pedestrian Crashes in MA (2022)

Reminder about the data from the MassDOT portal

MassDOT makes no representation as to the accuracy, adequacy, reliability, availability or completeness of the crash records or the data collected from them and is not responsible for any errors or omissions in such records or data. Under no circumstance will MassDOT have any liability for any loss or damage incurred by any party as a result of the use of the crash records or the data collected from them. Furthermore, the data contained in the web-based crash report tool are not an official record of what transpired in a particular crash or for a particular crash type. If a user is interested in an official copy of a crash report, contact the Registry (http://www.mass.gov/rmv/). The City of Boston Police Department may be contacted directly for official copies of crash reports and for crash data pertaining to the City of Boston. In addition, any crash records or data provided for the years after 2018 are subject to change at any time and are not to be considered up-to-date or complete. As such, open years’ of crash data are for informational purposes only and should not be used for analysis. The data posted on this website, including crash records and other reports, are collected for the purpose of identifying, evaluating or planning the safety enhancement of potential crash sites, hazardous roadway conditions or railway-highway crossings. Under federal law, this information is not subject to discovery and cannot be admitted into evidence in any federal or state court proceeding or considered for other purposes in any action for damages that involves the sites mentioned in these records (see 23 USC, Section 409).

Statewide Fatal Crashes in MA, June 2023

Statewide Fatal Crashes in MA, June 2023

By |

Each month, we post about the fatal crashes in Massachusetts from the previous month, and share any trends that we see. For the full list of monthly posts, head here.

Last month, we took a look at crashes listed in the MassDOT Crash Portal in May; six were identified as people walking. In this post, we’ll look at crashes in MA in June 2023. The information in the chart below is compiled from news reports, and was checked against the MassDOT Crash Portal Dashboard “Fatal Crash Information.” Any Google Street View images included below use the address listed in the crash portal.

  • Of the 20 fatal crashes in Massachusetts in June in the MassDOT Crash portal, 3 were identified as people walking.
  • The average age of pedestrians hit & killed in June was 41.3.
Date 6/13/2023, 4:22 AM
Location I-93 SOUTH, south of EXIT 21
Town Medford
Type PEDESTRIAN
Age 31
Sex M

WCVB reports a 31-year old man was struck and killed after jumping from an overpass onto 93-South.

According to the MassDOT Road Inventory, I-93 is under MassDOT jurisdiction. It is a limited access highway, with 4 travel lanes in each direction with a divided median. The speed limit is 55mph.

Date 6/15/2023, 4:56 PM
Location 1037 St. James Ave.
Town Springfield
Type PEDESTRIAN
Age 50
Sex M

WWLP reported that a 50 year old man was struck by the driver of a vehicle as the man was crossing the street near a bank. The man was transported to Baystate Medical Center with serious injuries. This crash was categorized as a fatal crash in the MassDOT portal when checked on July 21st.

The nearby intersections of St. James Avenue, Carew Street, and St. James Boulevard is listed for construction through the Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP); locations are selected based on the HSIP Top 200 Crash Cluster mapping and in coordination with the District and Regional Planning Agency. This project is planned to be funded through the 2023 Transportation Improvement Program for the Pioneer Valley Metropolitan Planning Organization; notice to proceed was given on May 17, 2023.

According to the MassDOT Road Inventory, St. James Avenue is under local jurisdiction. It is a two-way street, with 1 travel lane in each direction. (The travel lanes are wide; the road inventory lists the surface width as 44 feet). There is a sidewalk on each side of the street. The speed limit is 30mph.

Date 6/24/2023, 9:01 PM
Location 224 Low St.
Town Newburyport
Type PEDESTRIAN
Age 43
Sex F

MassLive reports 43-year old Mercy Kimani was struck and killed by the driver of a GMC Denali SUV near Port Plaza on Low Street in Newburyport.

The Daily News reported that the investigation is ongoing: 

“The circumstances that led to the fatal accident remain unclear with officials still trying to piece together whether the victim was crossing the road, walking alongside the road where there is no sidewalk or if something else happened.”

According to the MassDOT Road Inventory, Low Street is under local jurisdiction. It is a two-way street, with 1 travel lane in each direction. There is a sidewalk on each side of the street. The speed limit is 30mph. (It is listed as 99 on the road inventory, but viewable nearby on street view.)

Google Street View images show that vegetation has encroached on sidewalk access in previous years near the plaza.

Updates

If you have an update about a community member who was killed in one of these crashes, please contact Brendan so we can update our 2023 list. WalkBoston has maintained a list each year since 2016, pulling the information from news reports, social media, and from people like you that share the information with us.

Yearly trackers:  |  ||||| 2022 | 2023

Report: Fatal Pedestrian Crashes in MA (2021)
Report: Fatal Pedestrian Crashes in MA (2022)

Reminder about the data from the MassDOT portal

MassDOT makes no representation as to the accuracy, adequacy, reliability, availability or completeness of the crash records or the data collected from them and is not responsible for any errors or omissions in such records or data. Under no circumstance will MassDOT have any liability for any loss or damage incurred by any party as a result of the use of the crash records or the data collected from them. Furthermore, the data contained in the web-based crash report tool are not an official record of what transpired in a particular crash or for a particular crash type. If a user is interested in an official copy of a crash report, contact the Registry (http://www.mass.gov/rmv/). The City of Boston Police Department may be contacted directly for official copies of crash reports and for crash data pertaining to the City of Boston. In addition, any crash records or data provided for the years after 2018 are subject to change at any time and are not to be considered up-to-date or complete. As such, open years’ of crash data are for informational purposes only and should not be used for analysis. The data posted on this website, including crash records and other reports, are collected for the purpose of identifying, evaluating or planning the safety enhancement of potential crash sites, hazardous roadway conditions or railway-highway crossings. Under federal law, this information is not subject to discovery and cannot be admitted into evidence in any federal or state court proceeding or considered for other purposes in any action for damages that involves the sites mentioned in these records (see 23 USC, Section 409).

Statewide Fatal Crashes In MA, May 2023

Statewide Fatal Crashes In MA, May 2023

By |

Each month, we post about the fatal crashes in Massachusetts from the previous month, and share any trends that we see. For the full list of monthly posts, head here.

Last month, we took a look at crashes listed in the MassDOT Crash Portal in April; five were identified as people walking. In this post, we’ll look at crashes in MA in May 2023. The information in the chart below is compiled from news reports, and was checked against the MassDOT Crash Portal Dashboard “Fatal Crash Information.” Any Google Street View images included below use the address listed in the crash portal.

  • Of the 33 fatal crashes in Massachusetts in May in the MassDOT Crash portal, 6 were identified as people walking.
  • The average age of pedestrians hit & killed in May was 44.6.
  • At least one person was on a sidewalk and two others were in crosswalks when drivers hit & killed them.
Date 5/7/2023, 1:37 PM
Location Massachusetts Ave. + Cobblestone Cir.
Town North Andover
Type PEDESTRIAN
Age 47
Sex F

47-year old Angela Desmond was walking on the sidewalk in North Andover when the driver of a Honda Civic struck and killed her. Boston 25 News spoke to a neighbor:

Bill Dolan also lives nearby — and frequently walks his dog along Mass. Ave. Dolan said he’s actually seen vehicles veer up onto the sidewalk, in an attempt to get around drivers making a turn.

According to the MassDOT Road Inventory, Massachusetts Avenue is under local jurisdiction. It is a two-way street, with 1 travel lane in each direction. There is a sidewalk on both sides (note: road inventory says 1 side). The speed limit is 35mph.

Date 5/9/2023, 5:30 PM
Location 2 Elm St. South + Main St.
Town Andover
Type PEDESTRIAN
Age 5
Sex F

5-year old Sidney Mae Olson was struck and killed by the driver of a large truck in a crosswalk in Andover. From WCVB:

The Olson family statement said the girl and another family member were in the crosswalk on Elm Street, and “the walk sign showed it was still safe to cross.”

“As long-time residents of the neighborhood, we’ve followed that route hundreds of times before. The rest was a blur, and Sidney was struck by a truck and killed, leaving an impossible void in our lives,” the family said.

The Eagle Tribute reports that MassDOT was leading a road safety audit in response to the crash:

Technically, MassDOT will be conducting what is known as a Road Safety Audit, which are reviews of existing, or planned roads and intersections, according to the state’s website.

In order to complete the audit, MassDOT is going to begin compiling crash data and other pertinent information as “soon as possible,” according to the MassDOT email to Finegold’s office.

“In an effort to assist the community, MassDOT will be organizing a Road Safety Audit for the location that can be used to determine potential safety countermeasures that could be implemented in the immediate, short and long term scenarios,” the email said.

MassDOT added that state, and local officials and departments will be involved in the audit.

News of the audit comes following a May 11 letter sent by local legislators to MassDOT asking that the state “focus resources on improving pedestrian safety at the intersection.”

According to the MassDOT Road Inventory, each road at this intersection is under local jurisdiction. Elm Street is a two-way street, with three travel lanes in one direction (a channelized right turn lane, one travel lane, and left turn as it approaches the intersection) and one travel lane away from the intersection. There is a sidewalk on both sides. The speed limit is 30mph.

Date 5/14/2023, 7:20 PM
Location E. Grove St. + Merchants Way
Town Middleborough
Type PEDESTRIAN
Age 15
Sex M

15-year old Dylan Levesque was struck and killed by the driver of a car while crossing the street at the corner of Route 28 and the shopping entrance to the Hannaford Supermarket plaza in Taunton on Mother’s Day.

From the Taunton Daily Gazette:

Officials said there have been longstanding concerns over the lack of a traffic signal or crosswalk light at the intersection of Merchants Way and Route 28/East Grove Street where Dylan was hit.

Within the vicinity of the shopping plaza, also known as Middleboro Crossing, where Dylan was coming from, are two elementary schools, Middleboro High School and the YMCA.

“There are always kids, walking, riding bikes, families walking to and from the grocery store/shopping center. We need something so these people that aren’t in cars can be safe from cars flying by,” said Erika Rusconi, who started a Change.org petition to get a crosswalk light installed at that intersection.

According to the MassDOT Road Inventory, E. Grove Street is under MassDOT jurisdiction. It is a two-way street, with 1 travel lane in each direction. There is a sidewalk on one side of the street and a shoulder on both sides. The speed limit is 40mph. A “Do Not Pass” sign is visible on Google Street View.

Date 5/19/2023, 8:42 PM
Location Water St. + Nichols St.
Town Fitchburg
Type PEDESTRIAN
Age 76
Sex M

The Telegram & Gazette reports 76-year old Mario Bratkon was struck and killed by the driver of a vehicle while crossing the street in a crosswalk in Fitchburg near the Fitchburg/Leominster line.

According to the MassDOT Road Inventory, Water Street is under local jurisdiction. It is a two-way street, with 2 travel lanes in each direction. There is a sidewalk on both sides of the street. The speed limit is 35mph.

This intersection is at the Leominster / Fitchburg line; on the other side of Nichols Street, Fitchburg’s Water Street becomes Leominster’s North Main Street.

Date 5/20/2023, 2:02 PM
Location 243 Haverhill St.
Town Reading
Type PEDESTRIAN
Age 79
Sex F

NBC Boston reports a 79-year old woman was struck and seriously injured by the 19-year old driver of a Nissan Rogue. The woman was taken by ambulance to Lahey Hospital & Medical Center in Burlington. This crash was categorized as a fatal crash in the MassDOT portal when checked on June 30th.

According to the MassDOT Road Inventory, Haverhill Street is under local jurisdiction. It is a two-way street, with 1 travel lanes in each direction. There is a sidewalk on one of the street. The speed limit is 35mph.

Date 5/28/2023, 3:11 AM
Location 54 Woodlawn St.
Town Everett
Type PEDESTRIAN
Age 46
Sex F

A 46-year old woman was struck and killed by the driver of a vehicle.The call log of Everett, MA police for May 28th lists “911-FEMALE POSSIBLY STRUCK BY MV.” We could not find any additional news coverage of this incident.

According to the MassDOT Road Inventory, Woodlawn Street is under local jurisdiction. It is a two-way street, with 1 travel lanes in each direction. There is a sidewalk and street parking on both sides of the street. The speed limit is unclear, as it is listed as 99 and not viewable nearby on street view. The default speed limit in Everett is 30mph.

Updates

If you have an update about a community member who was killed in one of these crashes, please contact Brendan so we can update our 2023 list. WalkBoston has maintained a list each year since 2016, pulling the information from news reports, social media, and from people like you that share the information with us.

Yearly trackers:  |  ||||| 2022 | 2023

Report: Fatal Pedestrian Crashes in MA (2021)
Report: Fatal Pedestrian Crashes in MA (2022)

Reminder about the data from the MassDOT portal

MassDOT makes no representation as to the accuracy, adequacy, reliability, availability or completeness of the crash records or the data collected from them and is not responsible for any errors or omissions in such records or data. Under no circumstance will MassDOT have any liability for any loss or damage incurred by any party as a result of the use of the crash records or the data collected from them. Furthermore, the data contained in the web-based crash report tool are not an official record of what transpired in a particular crash or for a particular crash type. If a user is interested in an official copy of a crash report, contact the Registry (http://www.mass.gov/rmv/). The City of Boston Police Department may be contacted directly for official copies of crash reports and for crash data pertaining to the City of Boston. In addition, any crash records or data provided for the years after 2018 are subject to change at any time and are not to be considered up-to-date or complete. As such, open years’ of crash data are for informational purposes only and should not be used for analysis. The data posted on this website, including crash records and other reports, are collected for the purpose of identifying, evaluating or planning the safety enhancement of potential crash sites, hazardous roadway conditions or railway-highway crossings. Under federal law, this information is not subject to discovery and cannot be admitted into evidence in any federal or state court proceeding or considered for other purposes in any action for damages that involves the sites mentioned in these records (see 23 USC, Section 409).

Statewide Fatal Crashes In MA, April 2023

Statewide Fatal Crashes In MA, April 2023

By |

Each month, we post about the fatal crashes in Massachusetts from the previous month, and share any trends that we see. For the full list of monthly posts, head here.

Last month, we took a look at crashes listed in the MassDOT Crash Portal in March; six were identified as people walking. In this post, we’ll look at crashes in MA in April 2023. The information in the chart below is compiled from news reports, and was checked against the MassDOT Crash Portal Dashboard “Fatal Crash Information.” Any Google Street View images included below use the address listed in the crash portal.

  • Of the 23 fatal crashes in Massachusetts in April in the MassDOT Crash portal, 5 were identified as people walking.
  • The average age of pedestrians hit & killed in April was 41.2.
  • 3 of the fatal crashes took place at intersections.
Date 4/3/2023, 2:43 PM
Location Lawrence St. + Erving St.
Town Lawrence
Type PEDESTRIAN
Age 64
Sex F

According to a press release from the Essex District Attorney’s Office, 64-year old Silvana Seabra was struck by a van about 2:43 p.m. on April 3 at the intersection of Lawrence St and Erving [Avenue] in Lawrence. She passed away over a week later at Boston Medical Center. A man who also was struck suffered non-life-threatening injuries and was treated at Lawrence General Hospital.

The intersection is a street crossing for the Spicket River Greenway and is adjacent to the Hayden Schofield Playstead park; Google Street View from October 2019 shows a faded crosswalk.

According to the MassDOT Road Inventory, each road at this intersection is under local jurisdiction. Erving Avenue is a two-way street, with 1 travel lane in each direction. There is a sidewalk on both sides (note: road inventory says 1 side). The speed limit is unclear, as it is unlisted and not viewable nearby on street view. Lawrence Street is a two-way street, with 1 travel lane in each direction. There is a sidewalk and street parking on both sides of the street. The speed limit is unclear, as it is listed as 99 and not viewable nearby on street view.

Date 4/6/2023, 3:34 PM
Location Road Rd. at Lot 6
Town Dartmouth
Type PEDESTRIAN
Age 19
Sex M

WBZ/CBS Boston reports that 19-year old UMass Dartmouth freshman Frank Petillo, Jr. was struck and killed by another student on the campus’ Ring Road. As of this posting, a petition for pedestrian safety improvements on the campus had over 7,000 signatures.

From WBZ:

His death quickly drew attention to the perceived lack of safety on Ring Road, the school’s main thoroughfare and Chancellor Mark Fuller on Monday announced several steps to make it safer, either right away or by the end of the academic year.

They include portable speed bumps, flashing speed limit signs, additional patrol cars, elevated speed tables and crosswalks, and concrete barriers to protect some walkways.

UMass also said it plans to build a new pedestrian walkway to connect the school to a nearby apartment complex.

Students say these changes are long overdue. “The speed limit is supposed to be 25,” student Kyrillos Kedees said. “We really don’t want that to happen again.”

According to the MassDOT Road Inventory, this road is under state college or university jurisdiction. It is a two-way street, with 1 travel lane in each direction. There are no sidewalks on some sections of the roadway, with a sidewalk on one side for other sections. The speed limit is 25mph.

Date 4/8/2023, 9:23 PM
Location Daniel Shays Hwy.
Town Athol
Type PEDESTRIAN
Age 29
Sex M

WWLP reports 29-year old Kyle Bezio was struck and killed after being hit by a car on Route 202 in the area of 150 Daniel Shays Highway. The 20-year old driver and his passenger stopped and tried to help Bezio before he was taken by ambulance to Athol Hospital.

According to the MassDOT Road Inventory, this road is under MassDOT jurisdiction. It is a two-way street, with 1 travel lane in each direction. There is shoulder on each side and no sidewalks. The speed limit is listed as 35mph in one direction and 45mph in the opposing direction.

Date 4/9/2023, 8:21 PM
Location 258 Jefferson Ave.
Town Salem
Type PEDESTRIAN
Age 41
Sex F

41-year old Tammi Lyn Guy was struck and killed as she was crossing Jefferson Avenue at Wilson Street on the night of Easter Sunday.

Boston.com spoke to Salem City Councilor Patti Morsillo about the crash:

“My heart breaks for Tammi Guy’s family,” Salem City Councilor Patti Morsillo told Boston.com in an email. “This was a tragedy, and happened right in her own neighborhood.”

Morsillo said that after years of accidents on the residential and school-area street, the Salem Police Department is gathering crash data from the intersection. She also said that Salem will conduct a city meeting “within a week or two” after the collection process is complete. She says the meeting would include the acting mayor, the Director of Traffic and Parking, the Police Chief, the Lieutenant in charge of the Traffic Division, the City Engineer, the City Electrician, and herself.

“Instead of prioritizing efficient throughput of vehicles, we need to create safer roads for everyone: pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers.  The goal for every road should be zero crashes,” she said.

“We will look at the effectiveness of the street lights, road markings, crosswalk visibility, and geometry of the road, to determine what needs to be done to make the area safer,” Morsillo added.  “Salem has been working on intersection design upgrades in the area, and I am hoping to accelerate that work.  The issue of road safety requires a team approach, which is how this work will move forward.”

According to the MassDOT Road Inventory, this road is under local jurisdiction. It is a two-way street, with 1 travel lane in each direction; Google Street View shows that drivers create a second lane on Jefferson through the intersection where parking is prohibited, but not restricted. There is a sidewalk on both sides of the street and a crosswalks for 2 of the 3 legs of the intersection. The speed limit is 25mph.

Date 4/23/2023, 9:35 PM
Location Gallivan Blvd. + Dorchester Ave.
Town Boston
Type PEDESTRIAN
Age 53
Sex M

53-year old Torrance Hodges was struck and killed by the 52-year old driver of a 2006 Chevrolet Express van who was driving southbound with the green light on Gallivan Boulevard at Dorchester Avenue.

According to the MassDOT Road Inventory, Gallivan Boulevard is under MassDOT jurisdiction. It is a two-way street, with 2 travel lanes in each direction. There is also a slip lane to Dorchester Avenue in each direction. There is a sidewalk and street parking on both sides of the street; street parking is restricted closer to the intersection. The speed limit is 30mph.

Updates

If you have an update about a community member who was killed in one of these crashes, please contact Brendan so we can update our 2023 list. WalkBoston has maintained a list each year since 2016, pulling the information from news reports, social media, and from people like you that share the information with us.

Yearly trackers:  |  ||||| 2022 | 2023

Report: Fatal Pedestrian Crashes in MA (2021)
Report: Fatal Pedestrian Crashes in MA (2022)

Reminder about the data from the MassDOT portal

MassDOT makes no representation as to the accuracy, adequacy, reliability, availability or completeness of the crash records or the data collected from them and is not responsible for any errors or omissions in such records or data. Under no circumstance will MassDOT have any liability for any loss or damage incurred by any party as a result of the use of the crash records or the data collected from them. Furthermore, the data contained in the web-based crash report tool are not an official record of what transpired in a particular crash or for a particular crash type. If a user is interested in an official copy of a crash report, contact the Registry (http://www.mass.gov/rmv/). The City of Boston Police Department may be contacted directly for official copies of crash reports and for crash data pertaining to the City of Boston. In addition, any crash records or data provided for the years after 2018 are subject to change at any time and are not to be considered up-to-date or complete. As such, open years’ of crash data are for informational purposes only and should not be used for analysis. The data posted on this website, including crash records and other reports, are collected for the purpose of identifying, evaluating or planning the safety enhancement of potential crash sites, hazardous roadway conditions or railway-highway crossings. Under federal law, this information is not subject to discovery and cannot be admitted into evidence in any federal or state court proceeding or considered for other purposes in any action for damages that involves the sites mentioned in these records (see 23 USC, Section 409).

Statewide Fatal Crashes In MA, March 2023

Statewide Fatal Crashes In MA, March 2023

By |

Each month, we post about the fatal crashes in Massachusetts from the previous month, and share any trends that we see. For the full list of monthly posts, head here.

Last month, we took a look at crashes listed in the MassDOT Crash Portal in February; eight were identified as people walking. In this post, we’ll look at crashes in MA in March 2023. The information in the chart below is compiled from news reports, and was checked against the MassDOT Crash Portal Dashboard “Fatal Crash Information.” Any Google Street View images included below use the address listed in the crash portal.

  • Of the 25 fatal crashes in Massachusetts in March in the MassDOT Crash portal, 6 were identified as people walking.
  • The average age of pedestrians hit & killed in March was 51.5.
  • Three of the crashes were hit & runs.
Date 3/1/2023, 7:07 PM
Location 61 Taunton St.
Town Plainville
Type PEDESTRIAN
Age 46
Sex M

MassLive reports 46-year old William Murry was struck and killed by the driver of a Honda Accord at 7:07PM on Wednesday evening while walking along Taunton Street.

According to the MassDOT Road Inventory, this road is under local jurisdiction. It is a two-way street, with 1 travel lane in each direction. There is a sidewalk on one side of the street. The speed limit is 40mph.

Date 3/16/2023, 9:50 AM
Location University Ave.
Town Westwood
Type PEDESTRIAN
Age 82
Sex F

82-year old Alice Wedge was struck and killed at 9:50am on Thursday morning as she was trying to cross from a retail complex to the railway station. Boston.com reports two nurses stopped and gave her first aid until an ambulance arrived, but she passed away at Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital in Needham.

According to the MassDOT Road Inventory, this road is under local jurisdiction. Much of the information for University Avenue at this location is incomplete. It is a two-way street, with 3 travel lanes in each direction. There is a shared use path on one side and a sidewalk and street level bike lane on the other side of the street. The speed limit is unclear in the Road Inventory since it is listed as 99. The location is adjacent to the Route 128/University Park Commuter Rail/Amtrak Station and on/off ramps for 128/95.

Date 3/24/2023, 11:42 PM
Location South St.
Town Hatfield
Type PEDESTRIAN
Age 19
Sex M

Western Mass News reports 19-year old Jesse Johansmeyer was struck and killed at 11:42pm on Friday night after a bonfire in a remote cornfield in a section known as the Hatfield Meadows which is off of Great Neponset Road and South Street and near the Connecticut River. The driver of the white pickup truck fled the scene.

According to the MassDOT Road Inventory, this road is under local jurisdiction. It is a rural dirt road. The speed limit is unclear in the Road Inventory, and Street View is not available.

Date 3/26/2023, 5:03 PM
Location 3968 Washington St.
Town Boston
Type PEDESTRIAN
Age 60
Sex M

60-year old Egdio D’Antuony was struck and killed while sitting on his porch at 5:03pm on Sunday afternoon when he was struck by a vehicle that crashed into the house. His friend, 62-year old Joseph Cobb, suffered life-threatening injuries. The driver of the vehicle that caused the crash fled the scene.

Boston 25 News reports:

Juan Medina, 20, is charged with motor vehicle homicide by negligent operation, leaving the scene of personal injury or death and failing to yield at an intersection for his alleged role in the deadly March 26 crash.

Prosecutors say, Medina, was driving south on Washington Street around 5 p.m. when he turned into the northbound lane. His sudden movement allegedly caused another car to collide with a minivan and then the triple-decker where Edigio D’Antuony and Joseph Cobb sat on the front porch.

According to the MassDOT Road Inventory, this road is under local jurisdiction. It is a two-way street, with 1 travel lane in each direction. There is a sidewalk and street parking on both sides of the street. The speed limit is 30mph.

Date 3/27/2023, 4:59 PM
Location Logan Airport – Lower Roadway Terminal B
Town Boston
Type PEDESTRIAN
Age 47
Sex M

WWLP reports 47-year old Vishwachand Kolla was struck and killed by the driver of a Dartmouth Transportation motor coach bus at 4:59pm on Monday afternoon as he was standing outside his SUV parked curbside as he waited to pick up a friend from the airport.

Boston 25 News spoke to a bystander:

“I’m like what happened.. to find out that someone lost their life tonight that affects somebody.. especially to know that you’re here the same place and it could have been you,” said Laura Vandiver, Logan Airport passenger.

According to the MassDOT Road Inventory, this road is under Massport jurisdiction. There are 3 through lanes and 1 curbside pickup/drop-off lane on the one-way roadway. The speed limit is 15mph.

Date 3/29/2023, 6:20 AM
Location 1000 Western Ave.
Town Lynn
Type PEDESTRIAN
Age 55
Sex F

55-year old Emira Barucija was hit and killed in a crosswalk while walking to the bus stop on her morning commute to her job at Salem Hospital. The driver fled the scene. Lynn Police identified the suspect and located the suspect’s vehicle in a parking garage in the Longwood Medical area of Boston. Charges against the driver are anticipated, but not yet filed.

The Lynn Item spoke to an MBTA bus driver after the crash:

An MBTA bus driver, who spoke anonymously, said that at approximately 6 a.m. he saw the victim lying on the ground in the middle of the street, with another woman kneeling beside her.

The bus driver said a GE security guard responded to the scene just before he could call 911. He said that while driving his bus route, he sees erratic drivers in the area nearly every day.

“It’s crazy out here, you wouldn’t believe it,” he said.

According to the MassDOT Road Inventory, this road is under MassDOT jurisdiction. It is a two-way street, with 1 general travel lane and 1 bus/bike lane in each direction. There is a sidewalk on both sides of the street. The speed limit in the Road Inventory is 30mph. (We’ve included a screenshot of the overhead view below, since the painted lanes are not yet updated on Google Street View.)

 

Updates

If you have an update about a community member who was killed in one of these crashes, please contact Brendan so we can update our 2023 list. WalkBoston has maintained a list each year since 2016, pulling the information from news reports, social media, and from people like you that share the information with us.

Yearly trackers:  |  ||||| 2022 | 2023

Report: Fatal Pedestrian Crashes in MA (2021)
Report: Fatal Pedestrian Crashes in MA (2022)

Reminder about the data from the MassDOT portal

MassDOT makes no representation as to the accuracy, adequacy, reliability, availability or completeness of the crash records or the data collected from them and is not responsible for any errors or omissions in such records or data. Under no circumstance will MassDOT have any liability for any loss or damage incurred by any party as a result of the use of the crash records or the data collected from them. Furthermore, the data contained in the web-based crash report tool are not an official record of what transpired in a particular crash or for a particular crash type. If a user is interested in an official copy of a crash report, contact the Registry (http://www.mass.gov/rmv/). The City of Boston Police Department may be contacted directly for official copies of crash reports and for crash data pertaining to the City of Boston. In addition, any crash records or data provided for the years after 2018 are subject to change at any time and are not to be considered up-to-date or complete. As such, open years’ of crash data are for informational purposes only and should not be used for analysis. The data posted on this website, including crash records and other reports, are collected for the purpose of identifying, evaluating or planning the safety enhancement of potential crash sites, hazardous roadway conditions or railway-highway crossings. Under federal law, this information is not subject to discovery and cannot be admitted into evidence in any federal or state court proceeding or considered for other purposes in any action for damages that involves the sites mentioned in these records (see 23 USC, Section 409).