(PORTLAND, Maine) Feb. 23, 2022 – An Augusta resident has died after succumbing to injuries suffered last week when he was hit by a driver while crossing the street.
“We are saddened to learn of another pedestrian death in our state,” said Bicycle Coalition of Maine Executive Director Jean Sideris. “We all need to be on the lookout for vulnerable users when driving.”
The victim, 57-year-old John Boivin, was crossing Hospital Street around 7 p.m. on Thursday when he was struck by 23-year-old Mark Lawrence of Augusta, who was driving a Toyota RAV4 SUV.
Boivin was taken to MaineGeneral Medical Center in Augusta before being transferred to Maine Medical Center in Portland. Boivin’s family said he underwent seven surgeries over the weekend to alleviate pressure from his injuries, but passed away Monday afternoon.
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.
This is already the fourth pedestrian death of 2022, following a record-high 20 deaths in 2021.
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The Bicycle Coalition of Maine works to make Maine a better and safer place to bike and walk. Founded in 1992, the Bicycle Coalition of Maine has grown into the leading bicycle and pedestrian advocacy group in the state. The Coalition believes all Mainers should have access to bikes and bike education, and we envision a future where Maine’s roads, public ways, and trails are safe and accessible, resulting in cleaner travel options, improved health, and stronger economic benefits for Maine communities.