(Rumford, ME) September 24, 2025 — A 66‑year‑old Rumford resident, Mark McCollough, was fatally struck Monday night when a 2012 Toyota Tacoma driven by a 17‑year‑old driver hit him on Kerr Street between Dunton Street and Forest Avenue.
This tragic loss is devastating for friends and family members, for the Rumford community, and for all Mainers who expect they can walk safely in their own towns. It also underlines that every death on Maine’s roads is a failure of our systems, our design choices, and our policies.
So far in 2025, there have been 171 pedestrian crashes, with 16 resulting in death. During that same period, there have been 158 crashes involving people on bicycles, including 2 fatalities. These numbers represent lives lost and families shattered. The frequency of these tragedies demonstrates that what many call “accidents” are often predictable and preventable outcomes of unsafe streets.
“This should not be another story we read and mourn,” said Andrew Zarro, Executive Director of the Bicycle Coalition of Maine. “Streets must be redesigned, driver behavior must be held to higher standards, and data must guide us. Communities like Rumford deserve policies and investments that protect people, not expose them to risk.”
The Bicycle Coalition of Maine calls on Rumford, state transportation agencies, and local law enforcement to act immediately. Road segments like Kerr Street must be evaluated and reconfigured to lower speed, improve visibility, and incorporate safe crossings. Police departments and municipalities must strengthen crash data collection and transparency so patterns of danger can be exposed and addressed. Education, enforcement, and strong community engagement must partner with engineering to produce real change.
Mark McCollough died walking in his own community. No Mainer should lose their life simply crossing a street. The Bicycle Coalition of Maine recommits today to working with every town in the state to promote Vision Zero: a future where no pedestrian or cyclist is killed on Maine roads.
“As we approach the final quarter of the year, the trend is clear,” Zarro said. “We are not doing enough. The time for incremental change is over. We need bold action to make Maine’s streets safe for everyone.”
Every person in Maine should be able to walk, bike, or roll without fearing for their life. The Bicycle Coalition of Maine remains committed to working alongside local leaders, agencies, and residents to make that vision a reality.
The Bicycle Coalition of Maine remains committed to working with communities across the state to make streets safer for everyone.
For more information or to support BCM’s work, visit www.bikemaine.org.
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The Bicycle Coalition of Maine works to make Maine a better and safer place to bike and walk. Founded in 1992, the Bicycle Coalition of Maine has grown into the leading bicycle and pedestrian advocacy group in the state. The Coalition believes all Mainers should have access to bikes and bike education, and we envision a future where Maine’s roads, public ways, and trails are safe and accessible, resulting in cleaner travel options, improved health, and stronger economic benefits for Maine communities.