A number of pedestrian-involved traffic accidents have resulted in several injuries and a few fatalities in recent months. Though these incidents do occur every year, the Owensboro Police Department says there’s been a slight increase in pedestrian-related traffic accidents since the beginning of 2018.
Most recently, it was reported that 48-year-old resident Joyce Ann Clements later died from injuries she suffered in a Feb. 22 traffic accident on 2nd Street. Clements was hit by a driver at 6 a.m. as she was crossing a crosswalk. This accident is currently under investigation, and OPD is working to determine whether speeding, intoxication or cell phone use attributed to the fatality.
Another pedestrian fatality occurred as a result of a Nov. 16 accident, when 72-year-old Mary Greenwell was struck by a vehicle at 2:10 p.m. at East Byers Avenue and Friendship Drive. Greenwell later died from her injuries. The accident is still under investigation after an accident reconstruction was conducted. According to OPD, accident reconstruction investigations can take several months to complete.
Other recent pedestrian-related accidents include a Dec. 5 accident, when pedestrian Johnathan M. Davis, 28, was struck by a driver around 6 p.m. at the corner of 3rd and Frederica Streets. Davis was injured in the accident, although no foul play was suspected.
On Aug. 18, a pedestrian on a bicycle was struck by a vehicle at the corner of Frederica Street and College Drive at 8:30 p.m. The pedestrian sustained serious injuries and an accident reconstruction investigation was conducted.
According to data from OPD, there’s been an overall uptick in the number of pedestrians struck by vehicles, the number of injuries sustained from those accidents, as well as the number of fatalities.
Data shows that in 2017, there were 28 reported collisions involving pedestrians. Of those, 19 resulted in injuries. In 2018, however, OPD recorded 33 reports of collisions involving pedestrians, resulting in 25 injuries. While 2017 saw no pedestrian fatalities, there was one pedestrian fatality in 2018.
As for 2019 statistics thus far, pedestrian-related accidents are following a pattern similar to 2018. In just over two months, eight pedestrian-related traffic accidents have been reported, resulting in six injuries and one fatality.
OPD Public Information Officer Andrew Boggess said, while there was a slight increase in pedestrian-related traffic accidents from 2017 to 2018, some, but not all, of the drivers showed signs of speeding when they collided with pedestrians. However, distraction is suspected on both sides of the spectrum when these incidents occur.
“It is a slight increase. The numbers are up, but it’s not a huge jump from 2018,” Boggess said. “We’re on track to see about 33 accidents again for 2019. There’s a number of precautions drivers and pedestrians can take to avoid these kinds of accidents.”
Boggess said pedestrians should always use crosswalks when crossing the street so that drivers are less surprised by pedestrian activity on the road. Pedestrians should look both ways before crossing at a crosswalk and, even then, they should take extra precaution in making sure the driver sees them before crossing the street.
“Just because you have the right-of-way, you still need to make sure the cars see you,” Boggess said.
When walking at night, in the evening or the early morning hours, pedestrians should be sure to wear reflective or brightly-colored clothing. According to Boggess, dark clothing worn by pedestrians has been known to be a big issue when it comes to pedestrian-related traffic accidents.
“Pick roadways that have sidewalks,” Boggess said. “Stick as close as you can to the road when there isn’t a sidewalk available.”
Drivers should take precautions as well, Boggess said. Accidents can often be avoided by slowing your speed while driving through residential areas. At four-way stops, drivers should always keep an eye out for pedestrian traffic before taking off.
Boggess also advised drivers to never use their cell phones when driving, and they should take efforts to focus on what’s ahead of them when behind the wheel.
“Always keep your eyes on the road,” Boggess said.
