by Allyson LaPierre,WGMEWed, May 27, 2026 at 8:10 PM
Updated Thu, May 28, 2026 at 6:56 AM
Bicyclist in Portland (WGME)
PORTLAND (WGME) — The Cumberland County District Attorney’s Office is looking to crack down after a record number of deadly pedestrian crashes last year.
District Attorney Jackie Sartoris announced a new policy on Wednesday alongside the Bicycle Coalition of Maine that will require every serious crash involving a pedestrian or cyclist in Cumberland County to be reviewed by the DA’s office.
“It is absolutely just time to make this different,” Sartoris said.
Current state law requires police to refer cases to the DA’s office when an officer believes there is probable cause for a criminal or civil violation.
Sartoris says the new policy will now treat all serious crashes involving vulnerable road users as potential criminal or civil cases.
Crossing signal in Portland (WGME)
“I am now taking the additional step of requiring every case involving injury or death to a vulnerable user — so a bicyclist or pedestrian, or otherwise defined in Maine law — is sent to my office for review or charging decisions,” Sartoris said.
Andrew Zarro, executive director of the Bicycle Coalition of Maine, says Cumberland County saw 70 pedestrian-involved crashes last year, resulting in seven fatalities. There were also 73 cyclist-involved crashes, resulting in one fatality.
“This policy hopefully will be a step in the right direction of someone actually willing to do something,” Zarro said.
Under the new policy, police must secure crash scenes, preserve physical and digital evidence, and promptly refer complete reports to the DA’s office for review of possible criminal or civil violations.
When asked whether the policy would impact prosecutor caseloads, Sartoris said more cases are expected.
Bicyclists in Portland (WGME)
“Of course we will see more cases,” Sartoris said. “And do I think those cases are important cases? I really do, and that’s really the bottom line for me.”
Sartoris says the DA’s office will soon issue guidance and training for police on evidence collection, reporting standards and relevant laws, while also tracking and sharing data on these serious crashes.