Standish death follows previous fatalities in Turner, Old Town, and Hancock
February 11, 2019 (STANDISH, Maine) – The fourth Maine pedestrian death of 2019 occurred Monday in Standish—the fourth in the first six weeks of 2019.
Eileen Garroway, 69, was struck by Nicholas Breed, 20, who was operating a 2015 Toyota Corolla when it careened off Whites Bridge Road in Standish slightly before noon, hitting Garroway. Police do not suspect that drugs or alcohol were involved, however, Breed’s blood was drawn at the scene. Breed also surrendered his phone to investigators. Police do not yet know if he was texting at the time of the crash.
Garroway is listed as the owner of a home on Whites Bridge Road, a two-lane street with no sidewalk and woods close to the edge of a narrow shoulder. Whites Bridge Road is a main access road between Route 35 and Saint Joseph’s College, where Breed is a student.
“The number of deaths thus far in 2019 is alarming, and we sincerely hope that this trend does not continue throughout the remainder of the year,” said Bicycle Coalition of Maine Executive Director John Williams.
As the state’s leading promoters of cycling and walking safety, the Bicycle Coalition of Maine routinely monitors crash reports for incidents that involve bicyclists and pedestrians, and advocates for improved transportation infrastructure and policies to make Maine better for bicycling and walking.
The Bicycle Coalition of Maine will continue to track this case to determine what, if any, infrastructure changes could be made to prevent this type of tragedy from occurring again. The four fatal crashes in Maine so far this year highlight the need for all motorists to stay alert and aware, obey speed limits, and never drive distracted or under the influence of alcohol or other drugs.
As a reminder, pedestrians and other vulnerable users can be present on Maine’s roadways in all conditions and times of day. Additionally, pedestrians and cyclists should use extra care to be visible, especially when walking or biking after dark, and should follow best practices and the law for roadway safety.
The first pedestrian fatality occurred in Hancock on Jan. 9 when Terry Bragdon, 67, of Lamoine, was struck by the driver of a pickup truck on Mud Creek Road about a mile from the Route 1 intersection.
The second fatality occurred two weeks later on Jan. 24 in Old Town, when 24-year-old UMaine student Dylan Cooper was hit by the operator of a truck with a plow on Stillwater Avenue near Bennoch Road.
The third occurred on Feb. 1 when Catherine Gauthier, 36, was struck on Route 4 by the driver of a pickup truck.
The Bicycle Coalition of Maine expressed its deepest sympathies for the friends and families of these victims.