BANGOR, Maine — A woman was seriously injured early Saturday when she was struck by a car while out on a walk near the highway overpass on Union Street, Bangor police Lt. Tim Reid said.
“It was fairly serious but whether it was life-threatening, I’m not sure,” the lieutenant said. “The woman was transported” to an area hospital.
Few other details about the 7:45 a.m. accident, including the woman’s name and age and who was driving the car, could be released because the report was not finished, Reid said.
Watch bangordailynews.com for updates.
My husband witnessed a near miss this morning at almost the same time only in Brewer, at the intersection of State St. and Eastern Avenue. Everyone is in such a hurry they are oblivious to what’s going on around them.
What Bangor needs is an “ENFORCED” jaywalking law. People no longer watch or cross with the light. Especially teens and 20 somethings. If you say anything, you get an ear full of curses and gestures. Wish they’d do it to our so called mayor. Maybe then something would be done. Oh wait, sorry, I’m talking about the Bangor city council………never mind.
You don’t have enough information on this incident to automatically determine if it were jaywalking or not. Apparently, by the sounds of it, you just want to slam the Mayor and the council for something that you know nothing about.
Absolutely NOT. Bangor needs the current crosswalk law to be enforced. I live near the intersection of Broadway and Somerset. I cross that intersection a lot. I have attempted to cross the intersection before and even though I was in the crosswalk, I saw several vehicles including a Bangor police officer fail to stop. The state law says that motorists MUST stop for pedestrians in a crosswalk. The only exception is when there is a pedestrian control device. Otherwise, NO exceptions. Once a pedestrian has entered a crosswalk, motorists are required to stop for pedestrians in a crosswalk. It’s not a guideline, it’s not a suggestion, it’s the LAW.
On the other hand, pedestrians need to give the motorists time to stop. There is no need of someone walking out in front of a vehicle just because motorists are supposed to stop for pedestrians in crosswalks.
Yes, you do have to stop, but the pedestrian has some responsibility as well. Just because you come to a crosswalk does not mean you can then just step out into the street expecting all traffic to stop. People cant always see until on top of it and the pedestrian needs to stand and wait for already committed traffic. People cant stop on a dime. You would not believe how many young people tell me that they have the rights because they were in the crosswalk. I am not even going to get into people crossing against the light. I had someone scream at me yesterday at the light on Broadway and Cumberland. I had the green light, it was late and I really had no reason to slow down to nothing while coming up Broadway. This punk guy shouts something at me, you know because he must be right walking in front of cars at a green light.
And now I am going to stop my venting. I don’t want this to turn into a thread for pedestrian bashing. It would seem this woman has passed away, not a place for it anymore. My condolences to the family.
You should put *edit when you add a whole other paragraph after you originally post.
Seeing a Bangor Police Officer not stop for a Pedestrian in a crosswalk has been all too common in the past few years. Bangor is a free for all city now.
I understand that it is the law, but at the same time, don’t expect motorists to have your safety in mind. If they’re not paying attention, of course it is their fault – but they aren’t the ones that will suffer or die from it, the pedestrian will. I always make sure cars are stopped before I step into a crosswalk (or that there are no cars even close to me) because I don’t trust a driver to not be texting, turning the radio channel, or even daydreaming. I refuse to put my life in someone else’s hands simply because the law says I have the right to cross.
You are wrong and that is part of the problem. Pedestrians MUST obey their traffic control lights when in a crosswalk.
http://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/statutes/29-A/title29-Asec2057.html
Note paragraph 6
Did you even read my post? I stated that as the only exception. so YOU are wrong.
Perhaps I confused your post with another. If so, i stand corrected.
What is with pedestrians getting hit by cars in Bangor lately?
I’ve seen plenty of drivers go around cars stopped at crosswalks, because they did not want to wait in southern Maine, to almost hit someone who was in the cross walk crossing the road. Maybe someone doesn’t just stop to stop, but stops because someone is crossing the road!?!
Another complaint about southern Maine is that cars don’t stop at the end of a road until after the crosswalk, and many, do not look right for a pedestrian before turning right….. But, I never heard about so many pedestrian’s getting hit by cars in southern Maine, then again, too big of an area and not everything is newsworthy there I guess? Not sure?
But you’re not allowed to walk into traffic, either. Just standing there is not enough to require traffic to stop. You have to actually be crossing the road.
Where do you find that the pedestrian has to be actually crossing the crosswalk? That is not what every police officer I have ever asked has told me. I have always been told that if a pedestrian has stepped into a crosswalk waiting to cross, that is enough.
MRSA 29-A, Sect. 2056(4): “Pedestrians in marked crosswalks. When traffic-control devices are not in operation, an operator must yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian CROSSING within a marked crosswalk” (emphasis added).
Standing is not crossing.
Further, Sect. 2056(6)(C) states that a pedestrian may not “suddenly leave
a curb or other place of safety and walk or run into the path of a vehicle that
is so close that it is impossible for the operator to yield.”
Requiring the driver to have to brake hard to avoid hitting you doesn’t qualify as giving the motorist enough time to yield, especially if there is traffic following that vehicle closely.
Or, it could mean a PEDESTRIAN CROSSING, meaning a place where pedestrians cross. I have been told this meaning is more correct by many people, including police officers.
You say people aren’t allowed to walk out into traffic and in the same breath say you needn’t stop unless they are walking out into traffic. I believe that is called having your cake and eating too. You cannot have it both ways.
I’m not having my cake and eating it too.
As a pedestrian, you must cross at designated crosswalks. When you do cross, you cannot go against a traffic control device (traffic light) and you cannot leave the curb and cause traffic to have to stop suddenly for you to avoid hitting you.
In other words, cross when traffic has cleared (or when the traffic control device tells you to cross).
THEN, if you are in the midst of crossing and a vehicle comes upon you, the driver must stop.
But too often, pedestrians just walk into the street. When the post office was at the federal building in Bangor, people did it all of the time. Now the best place to see this is at the library in Bangor. Pedestrians never have the right to just cross when there’s no control device.
On the other side of the coin, I’ve seen pedestrians on Harlow who stop at Harlow and Franklin and wave cars through from Harlow onto Franklin. Actually, pedestrians do not have to stop walking to cross Franklin Street there; vehicles must to allow pedestrians to continue.
I’ve also seen drivers who slam on the brakes just because someone is approaching the sidewalk in front of the library and then proceed to cut off a pedestrian at the junction with Franklin.
Are you saying that pedestrians have the right of way only when (a) the walk light is in their favor; (b) when there is no traffic; or (c) when drivers deign to give them the right of way? I’m not sure that was the intent of the lawmakers.
Actually enforcing the speeding laws would have a greater effect. I doubt the car was doing the 25 mph limt. On Main St, even the police are going 35. I agree that pedistrians have a responsibility themselves in making sure they are not crossing front of a car, but if the way is clear, you should be able to cross. Autos get right turn on red, and if teh do not abuse it, it works great. No difference for responsible people.
*******————–
My first question these days when I see a headline about a pedestrian being hit by a car is whether the driver stopped.
This woman worked at Westgate Manor on Union st, walking to or from work,she passed away . To her friends and family so very sorry for your loss.
I am so sorry to hear about your this loss, i have a good feeling i know who this is and may she rest in peace
I’m so sorry to hear this, my condolences to her family.
* Please delete; this was supposed to be a reply to another poster *
I know her very well. I have worked with her for years. This is truly a tragic event. Please send your prayers to her and her family. Enough with the law and stuff when it comes to a death be a little more sensitive then trying to find someone to blame. Noone knows the real story yet. Plus remember the word KARMA before you go running it!
You tell people to be more sensitive and then you end with an insult, nice.
Your definiton of insult is off. I didn’t insult. I’m upset about this and of course, I go on bdn and there are people talking before they know what happend. Of course I’m going to be offened!! No insult here pal.
willing to bet the vehicle that hit her was going about twice the speed limit there..dont know why the police dont hang in that area with all the pedestrians that have been hit in that area over the years…..very rare do i see any vehicles doing under 40 or 50 going down past westgate manor..i believe the posted speed is 25…come on bangor PD crack down on speeders on union st…IM CALLLING THE BANGOR PD OUT to stop the union st speeding
What most people don’t seem to realize is that when you come off that interstate, some people don’t look right, they only look left, or don’t stop at all. Once, I was in the middle of crossing that intersection, with the walk light on, and I had to stop because they didn’t look. If I kept walking I would’ve got hit. And I’ve seen drivers going twice the speed limit on that street. However if she was jay-walking, then it was her fault. Either way, it’s a sad situation.
This women will be greatly missed! It wont be the same walking the halls of Westgate without her around. I will always miss her!! <3
My prayers are with her friends, family, and coworkers!
I’ve worked downtown for years where people are walking and crossing the streets all day, every day. It never ceases to amaze me how many pedestrians cross the street without looking to see if a car is coming – as though that painted cross-walk is the magic bullet that will keep them from getting run over. It’s especially dangerous in the rotary traffic because cars come whipping around a corner, usually too fast, and suddenly see someone in the cross-walk. Seems to me that having the right of way is going to be of small consolation when you’re lying on the ground with a bunch of broken bones.