(PORTLAND, Maine) Jan. 31, 2022 – A 59-year-old Canaan resident was struck and killed by a driver while walking her dog on Friday night.
The crash occurred on Brown’s Corner Road at approximately 5:30 p.m. The victim, Diane Shea, was reportedly walking eastbound when she was hit by Jeremy Hanson, 29, of Skowhegan, who was driving eastbound in a 2017 Jeep Cherokee.
The crash occurred not far from where Shea lived, according to Somerset County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Mike Mitchell.
“We are deeply saddened to lose yet another Mainer on our roads,” said Bicycle Coalition of Maine Executive Director Jean Sideris. “It’s heart-wrenching to think someone could be killed so close to home while simply walking their dog.”
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.
Maine State Police were still reconstructing the crash as of Sunday.
Hanson was transported to Redington-Fairview General Hospital in Skowhegan, but was not injured. Shea’s dog was also unharmed.
The BCM notes this is already the second pedestrian fatality of 2022.
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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.