(PORTLAND, Maine) November 28, 2023 – Levi Jewell, 29, was killed by a driver in a Ford F-350 truck. The crash occurred around 4:30 p.m. on Sunday.
“We send our deepest condolences to the victim’s loved ones,” said Bicycle Coalition of Maine (BCM) Executive Director Jean Sideris. “Walking near your home should not be a life-threatening activity.”
The incident is under investigation. The BCM urges law enforcement to carefully examine the roadway conditions, pedestrian facilities, history of crashes at this location, driver and pedestrian behavior, phone use records, and any additional circumstances that may have been contributing factors.
The incident again highlights the dangers of Maine roads. Jewell, who only moved to Maine on Sunday, the day of the crash, was walking near his home on Munson Rd in Wilton–a narrow rural road with no sidewalk and no shoulder. The speed limit is unposted, which defaults to 45 mph in rural contexts.
The BCM is concerned about the language used in media reports about this fatality. Calling out the walking position and clothing of the victim while leaving out any reference to the behavior or actions of the driver appears to rush to a judgment that the pedestrian was at fault in this crash. But other questions need to be answered. Was the driver operating a very large F-350 with due care and at a prudent and legal speed? Did the design of the road contribute to the crash? Would the presence of a shoulder have provided Jewell with a safer place to walk? The incident is under investigation and all the information in order to fully understand the conditions of the road or the behavior of the driver or the victim have not yet been made public.
The BCM encourages all drivers to slow down and look for people biking or walking, especially in residential areas where no bicycle or pedestrian facilities exist. Pedestrians should use sidewalks or walk against traffic and take precautions to be seen, such as wearing high visibility clothing or lights. Bicyclists should ride with traffic, using rear and front lights.
Seventeen pedestrians have been killed by drivers in Maine this year, according to the BCM’s tracking, and MaineDOT reports another 196 have been hit and injured. In addition to these pedestrian deaths and injuries, one bicycle rider has been killed and 132 bicyclists have been injured in crashes with motor vehicles. In 2022, 16 pedestrians and two bicyclists were killed, according to the BCM’s tracking, and the MaineDOT reported 217 pedestrians and 163 cyclists were injured on Maine roads.
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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.