A local group that pushes for safer streets is out with its annual fatal pedestrian crash report for the Bay State, just days after a 4-year-old girl was struck and killed by a truck in Boston.
At least 69 pedestrians lost their lives in crashes in Massachusetts last year, accounting for about 20% of the 346 total traffic deaths across the state, according to the report from WalkMassachusetts.
Boston had the most pedestrian deaths last year, recording eight fatalities. Springfield had the second most pedestrian fatalities with seven deaths recorded.
Of the state’s 351 cities and towns, 40 had at least one pedestrian fatality last year.
“We are heartbroken each year learning the stories of people walking who lose their lives in these senseless, and largely preventable, crashes,” said Brendan Kearney, co-executive director of WalkMassachusetts.
“One factor emerges again and again in these crashes: vehicle speed,” Kearney added. “Our roads are designed for people to drive too fast. We witness residents across the Commonwealth wanting to advocate for changes in the streets in their own community – and we stand ready to help.”
This annual report comes in the wake of the fatal pedestrian crash near Boston Children’s Museum last weekend. Gracie Gancheva, 4, died following the crash in the Fort Point intersection of Congress and Sleeper streets on Sunday.
The child was with family at the time. The driver of the Ford F-150 pickup truck that struck her remained on scene, and no charges, citations or arrests had been made. The Gancheva family lives in Denver, Colorado, according to published reports.
Last year, 5-year-old girl Sidney Mae Olson was struck and killed by a tractor trailer truck in an Andover crosswalk. Also, 4-year-old boy Ivan Pierre died following a hit-and-run crash in Hyde Park.
According to the annual report, older adults were hit and killed at a higher rate than those in other age groups for the third year in a row: 31.9% of fatal crash victims were over the age of 65, while this segment represents only 18% of the state’s total population.
Just on Thursday, Dedham Police responded to a Whole Foods parking lot for a 71-year-old pedestrian who had been struck by a vehicle. The Dorchester woman reportedly suffered serious injuries.
“People of all ages deserve to be safe as we move within and between our communities,” said Massachusetts Healthy Aging Collaborative Executive Director James Fuccione.
“For older adults to be active, engaged and included in community life means having infrastructure that prioritizes safety and connection to things we all find meaningful,” the executive director added. “This data is proof that there is more to be done as we collectively need to advance and quicken the progress being made.”
While total pedestrian deaths dipped from the previous year’s all-time high of 101 deaths, last year’s total of 69 deaths sits at the average of pedestrian deaths over the past 22 years.
About 70% of the fatal pedestrian crashes last year occurred in the dark, before sunrise or after sunset. Also, at least seven of the fatal crashes were recorded as hit and runs, where the driver left the scene of the crash.
More than 70% of the vehicles people were driving in these fatal crashes were passenger cars, while 21.5% were “light trucks.” All vans, minivans, pickups, and SUVs are combined into the “light truck” category.
Breaking it down to where the crashes happened, more than three quarters (76.8%) of the fatalities took place on streets controlled by cities and towns. Less than 20% (18.8%) were on MassDOT roads. The remaining 4.3% were Massport, UMass, and private property.
“In previous years of this report, we’ve urged our state and local leaders to take steps to design our streets to be safer for Massachusetts residents,” the group wrote in the report. “This year, we’re urging everyone to do their part to make their community a safer place: lead a walk audit in a place you’re concerned about in your neighborhood.”
“As in each year we’ve released this report, we believe that on the state and local level, there is a need for more action to slow drivers down so people trying to cross the street can do so safely,” the group wrote, later adding, “Oversized vehicles are making U.S. streets deadlier for pedestrians and bike riders. Vehicle design and visibility from the driver’s seat are significant factors in the rise of traffic crashes and fatalities.”