Drivers have killed 43 pedestrians/cyclists, so far, this year.
July was less brutal than June, or so it seems. Just today, I am seeing information about yet another fatal pedestrian crash from June that I only learned of through the Connecticut Crash Data Repository. This brings the total to 12 pedestrians killed on Connecticut’s roadways in June — far above what the monthly average has been for quite awhile.
As far as I can see, the news never reported the collision that happened on June 16, 2024 around 9:30 PM. The driver of a Nissan Rogue SUV struck and killed a 40-year old pedestrian who was crossing Route 1 using an unmarked (but legal) crosswalk at Marginal Drive.
Although most people do not have a working knowledge of where every pedestrian has been seriously injured or killed, this publicly unidentified victim was not making a nonsensical choice by opting to cross where he did. On Route 1, the nearest painted crosswalk does not have lights for pedestrians — only stop lights for cars. Knowing that someone can be making a turn at any time, it might feel safer to opt to cross at a less busy intersection. And anyway, in 2019 a pedestrian was killed at the intersection with the marked crosswalk to the west.
If he wanted to try his luck by walking east, he would have been using a part of Route 1 where there is no sidewalk. After walking along that for 0.3 mile, he would be in New Haven at the intersection with Route 10, where two pedestrians have been killed since 2015 in separate collisions.
This is called setting someone up for failure.
We know from data that Route 1 and nearby Route 10 have proven themselves again and again to be deadly designs. Please, if you live in the West Haven area and/or regularly use this roadway, take five minutes to advocate for safer roads. Scroll down to see how you can take action.
NEW BRITAIN
Another fatal pedestrian crash that was never reported by the news happened on May 27, 2024 at 8:24 PM in New Britain. It was a rainy evening. This happened at 139 Arch Street, not far from where a few minor traffic calming and place-making elements have been added in recent years.
The crash diagram shows the driver of a south bound Nissan Rogue SUV striking a pedestrian who was crossing the street west; in other words, the pedestrian was already fully in the roadway and didn’t just step off the curb.
The speed limit here is 25 MPH. The report states that there was street lighting. It’s unclear why the driver did not avoid striking the publicly unidentified woman crossing in an area with businesses and residences, right in New Britain’s downtown where people on foot should be expected.
HARWINTON
On July 28, 2024 around 11:50 AM, the driver of a 2008 Audi A4 struck Kevin Christopher Gangell, 24 of Clearview Avenue, killing the pedestrian.
The speed limit is 25 MPH and there were no adverse weather conditions, which raises questions about how a driver failed to avoid striking a younger adult in daylight.
This happened on a rural road with no sidewalks, and the victim was reportedly right by his home. The motorist reportedly veered into the shoulder, into Kevin, and into a rock embankment. Besides killing Kevin, this crash injured a passenger in the Audi.
VERNON
A little after 5 AM on July 13, 2024, the driver of a Nissan Altima struck John A. Kaszowski, 65 of Manchester on I-84 in Vernon. The news reported that the victim was “lying on the road.” It has not been said how this information is known; was there video of this, is the information based on what vehicle occupants told police, is it based on what other eyewitnesses shared? It was also not explained why the victim may have been lying in the center right lane where the speed limit is 65.
HEBRON
This is not included on the maps or count, at least not for now. On July 21, 2024, 38-year old Cui Lin of Simsbury was killed in a bicycle crash on Route 316 in Hebron. It was reported that a passerby noticed an unattended bicycle against a guardrail. Its rider was located in the woods on the other side of the rail with a severe leg injury. He died at the hospital from these injuries. This is a rural two-lane route with a narrow shoulder and no bike lanes. The speed limit is 45 MPH. The reason that this is not yet included on the map is because it remains under investigation and is unclear if a driver struck him, if a driver bullied him off the road, or if he was in a solo crash without anyone else’s involvement. Because this happened in a rural area, it is unlikely there is much video to go by as people benefit from in more urbanized areas.
TAKE ACTION
West Haven residents:
Live in West Haven or use Route 1 regularly? You know this road needs to gain sidewalks, better and regular crossings for pedestrians, and lose at least one vehicle lane.
Contact the CT DOT to demand that they fix Route 1 : CT DOT: 203-238-6240
While this is a State of Connecticut road, you can reach out to West Haven’s mayor to let them know that Route 1 is a blight and needs to be improved. Politicians should know what’s important to their constituents and they can put pressure on the CT DOT. West Haven’s Mayor: dborer@westhaven-ct.gov 203-937-3510
Connecticut residents:
Contact your local media and let them know that as a consumer, you expect a higher quality of reporting. Ask that they treat all crash victims with the dignity and respect that all humans deserve, regardless of their age, race, job, criminal history, housing status, etc. Ask that they behave like journalists by asking questions and reporting with nuance. Ask that they do more than merely parrot what the police have told them. You can share these reporting standards with them.
