March 17, 2008
Pedestrian Hit by Truck in Central Square, Updated
Update: The Cambridge Chronicle is reporting that the pedestrian died. The Boston Herald added that he was "dragged to his death" and that a bystander ran after the driver trying to get him to stop.
If you were wondering why all the bus drivers were taking unusual paths around Central Square today, word got out on b0st0n livejournal that a pedestrian was hit by a Shaw's tractor-trailer at Mass Ave and Prospect at 6:45, right in the heart of Central Square's busiest spot.
The pedestrian is now in critical condition, according to the Cambridge Chronicle. All we know about the person is that he is 28 years old and a Harvard student.
There were reports on LiveJournal and at Universal Hub that the victim died, but right now we're going with the Chronicle.
Did you see the incident? That intersection is particularly ugly when it comes to either a) people turning into pedestrians when pedestrians have the right of way and b) pedestrians blithely walking across when they don't have the right of way.
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I just saw on Universal Hub that the man died...
My girlfriend walks to work through that intersection, and she didn't notice anything unusual at 8:30...
I've overheard people around Central Square saying that the poor guy walked right under one of the truck wheels while listening to his iPod. That's just hearsay, though. Whatever happened, it reveals what terrifying results can come out of one thoughtless moment. It is horrible.
One truck driver who witnessed the aftermath of the accident commented on the Cambridge Chronicle page that "In my seven years of driving I've never seen anything more horrific than this."
Wow, r...wow. I walked by at 8:30 and again at 10:00 and there was so much police activity and ruckus the both times that you'd have to be blind not to have seen it.
...is your girlfriend? Blind? In light of the recent tragedy, she should definitely be more aware in that intersection. I've almost been hit there more times than I can count. It's not a place to be when you're not interested in paying attention to your surroundings.
On my way to the T stop - *right next to the scene of the accident* - I watched a woman dart across the street when the cars weren't moving quickly enough for her EVEN THOUGH THEY HAD THE RIGHT OF WAY.
It boggles my mind. Pedestrians and cars, both.
At 8:30Am, the place was buzzing with activity. Your girlfriend must have been in another Central Square.
Seriously, that crosswalk is DANGEROUS! Yes, people are allowed to cross and cars are allowed to turn at the same time. So many times I have seen inpatient drivers nearly run over people. They even honk at people in the crosswalk to hurry up. Sometimes the cars speed in front of you or behind you. I cross there almost everyday, its a horrible crosswalk.