Newton Police have identified and cited the driver who allegedly hit an elderly pedestrian in Newton Centre, MA and fled the scene without stopping. The driver, a 26-year-old Newton woman, received a citation for leaving the scene of an accident after causing personal injury, said Newton Police Lt. Bruce Apotheker.
Injuries to the unidentified pedestrian, who was transported to Beth-Israel Hospital after the incident, are not life threatening, according to Apotheker.
The accident took place at approximately 5:30 p.m. on Monday as the 94-year-old male pedestrian was crossing Centre Street near the intersection with Langley Road. The pedestrian was not in the crosswalk when the vehicle struck him, Apotheker said.
The driver did not stop after hitting the pedestrian, and police were searching for a silver Toyota after having found a silver side-view mirror of a Toyota at the scene.
Roughly an hour after the incident, however, the driver contacted police.
Police have spoken to the driver and are investigating the incident. Authorities shut down parts of Newton Centre, including Centre Street and Pleasant Street, to investigate the accident.
Massachusetts Car and Pedestrian Accidents
Pedestrians are especially vulnerable to accidents with motor vehicles on Massachusetts’ crowded streets. Unlike motorists, pedestrians lack the protection of airbags, seat belts, and metal cages.
A car-on-person accident can result in serious bodily injury that will greatly impair an individual’s health, mental well-being, and ability to work. Medical bills can reach astronomical levels. The effects of this type of an injury often linger for years.
Drivers are supposed to look out for pedestrians in the road, and in the case of crosswalks, they are supposed to yield. But many motorists become distracted with text messaging, GPS, and MP3 players.
If you are a pedestrian who has been injured in an accident involving a vehicle of any kind, such as a car, truck, atv, or snowmobile, please contact one of our experienced Boston personal injury attorneys here at Altman & Altman, LLP. We will provide you with a free case evaluation in which our skilled professionals will analyze the facts and law surrounding your situation, and advise you of your legal rights. We only charge a fee if we are successful in securing for you a settlement or successful verdict.
Sources: UPDATED 10:20 a.m.:
Pedestrian Struck in Newton Centre, Newton Patch, November 26, 2012.
Police Cite Driver in Newton Centre Pedestrian Crash, Newton Patch, November 27, 2012