(Portland, ME) November 7, 2024 – A Connecticut woman is dead after she was struck by a vehicle in Portland. According to police, on November 6, at about 7:30 p.m., 66-year-old Cynthia Karst of Ridgefield, Connecticut was crossing Franklin Street at the intersection of Congress Street when she was struck by a car driven by a 36-year-old male from Portland.
The accident reconstruction team was called in to investigate and no charges have been filed at this time. Police are asking anyone who may have witnessed the crash or have information to please call them at 207-874-8532 or 207-874-8575.
The Bicycle Coalition of Maine (BCM) is currently working with the City of Portland and various stakeholders, asking them to prioritize addressing the specific dangers to pedestrians that exist on Franklin Street.
“Unfortunately, there has been an increase this year specifically in crosswalk conflicts, crashes, and near misses. The BCM urges all road users to exercise caution, especially in what is expected to be a safe zone like a crosswalk” said Paul Drinan, Active Transportation Director for the BCM.
The BCM encourages all drivers to slow down and look for people biking or walking, especially where pedestrians and cyclists may be present. With the size of vehicles trending larger, we remind drivers to take extra care in checking the spaces around them to ensure they are clear of pedestrians, cyclists, or other vehicles. The BCM urges law enforcement to carefully examine the conditions, driver and pedestrian behavior, and any additional circumstances that may have been contributing factors to a crash.
This is the twelfth pedestrian killed in Maine in this year, and according to the State of Maine’s Maine Public Crash Query Tool, there have been 183 pedestrian crashes to date in 2024 in a variety of contexts. The crash remains under investigation.
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The Bicycle Coalition of Maine works to make Maine a better and safer place to bike, walk, and roll. 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.