(AUGUSTA, Maine) May 21, 2021 – Three pedestrians, including a one-year-old girl, were hit and killed by a driver in Augusta Thursday afternoon.
“We are shocked and saddened by this tragic loss of life on our roads,” said Bicycle Coalition of Maine Executive Director Jean Sideris. “Our hearts go out to the victim’s families and the Augusta community as a whole.”
The crash was reported around 2 p.m. on Cony Road, and claimed the lives of Barbara Maxim Hendsbee, 69, and Rosalyn Jean, 62, both of Augusta. A one-year-old girl, whose name has not been released, was also struck and later succumbed to her injuries.
Maine State Police are investigating the crash and say more details will be released as they become available. The BCM encourages the police to investigate and examine the road conditions, pedestrian facilities, history of crashes at this location, driver behavior, and any other extenuating circumstances that may have been contributing factors.
The incident occured during UN Global Road Safety Week, an international campaign to raise awareness of road safety and make changes that will reduce the number of road deaths. All week long, the Bicycle Coalition of Maine hosted events across the state—including the International Ride of Silence, which is held in remembrance of pedestrians and cyclists killed by road violence—to increase awareness in Maine.
“This tragedy is a reminder that we still have a lot of work to do in order to make Maine’s streets safe for pedestrians and people on bikes,” Sideris added.
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The Bicycle Coalition of Maine is the statewide voice of cyclists and pedestrians. Since 1992, the BCM has led the effort to make Maine better for bicycling and walking by protecting the rights and safety of cyclists and pedestrians through education, advocacy, legislation, and encouragement. We support biking and walking for health, transportation, and recreation. For more information, visit bikemaine.org.