(PORTLAND, Maine) Jan. 18, 2022 – An 80-year-old man was struck and killed by the driver of a pickup truck in Belfast on Saturday night.
Robert Day was crossing Lincolnville Avenue near Belfast Variety at approximately 6 p.m. when he was hit by the southbound driver, 37-year-old Jesse Johnson-Rodgers, according to Belfast Police.
“Our thoughts are with the victim’s family, friends, and community following this tragic event,” said Bicycle Coalition of Maine Executive Director Jean Sideris.
The BCM urges law enforcement to carefully investigate and examine the roadway conditions, pedestrian facilities, history of crashes at this location, driver behavior, and any additional circumstances that may have been contributing factors.
“We still have so much to do to protect pedestrians, people on bikes, and other vulnerable users,” said Sideris, who recognized the crash as Maine’s first pedestrian death of 2022.
The Coalition says 20 pedestrians were killed in Maine in 2021, compared to 10 in 2020.
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The Bicycle Coalition of Maine is the statewide voice of cyclists and pedestrians. Since 1992, the BCM has led the effort to make Maine better for bicycling and walking by protecting the rights and safety of cyclists and pedestrians through education, advocacy, legislation, and encouragement. We support biking and walking for health, transportation, and recreation. For more information, visit bikemaine.org.