(Portland, ME) August 7, 2024 – A man was hit by a driver in Falmouth and found dead on Gray Road on Tuesday afternoon. The name is being withheld and little is known about the incident. The police were notified of the crash around 3:00 p.m. Police are asking anyone who may have information to call 207-781-2300.
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.
This is the fifth pedestrian to be killed in Maine this year. Last year at this time, ten pedestrians had been killed. While this indicates a downward trend to-date, we cannot simply hope for a continued decrease in traffic fatalities. We need to make long-term investments in road design and bike/ped infrastructure and we need all drivers to slow down, pay attention, and never drive distracted or impaired.
Statewide, according to the MaineDOT crash query tool, 109 pedestrian crashes have been reported. No cyclist fatalities have been reported; 90 bicycle crashes have been reported. These numbers are slightly lower compared to a similar time frame last year.
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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.