Cumberland County District Attorney Jacqueline Sartoris said the goal is consistent accountability when serious harm occurs on the road.
Author: NEWS CENTER Maine Staff
Published: 10:23 AM EDT May 27, 2026
Updated: 7:34 PM EDT May 27, 2026
PORTLAND, Maine — After a record year for pedestrian deaths in Cumberland County in 2025, District Attorney Jacqueline Sartoris has announced a new policy requiring law enforcement to treat all crashes involving pedestrians or bicyclists that result in injury as potential criminal or civil matters and refer them to her office for review.
Sartoris is scheduled to hold a press conference about the policy at noon Wednesday at Lincoln Park in Portland alongside Andrew Zarro, who said the change reflects growing concern over “traffic violence” and accountability for vulnerable road users.
Under the policy, police agencies in Cumberland County must secure crash scenes, preserve physical and digital evidence, and forward complete investigative reports to the district attorney’s office for review of possible charges or civil enforcement actions, the office said in a press release.
Sartoris said crashes involving people on foot or on bikes should not be treated as routine accidents.
“These are violent events with real victims,” Sartoris said in the release. “Police officers are already doing the work of investigating these crashes — now that information will be shared with prosecutors to determine if a charge is appropriate.”
The Bicycle Coalition of Maine, a leading bicycle and pedestrian advocacy group in the state, supported the change, saying it recognizes the rights of people walking and biking and improves accountability when serious injuries occur.
Zarro said the policy responds to widespread frustration over inaction as roadway injuries and deaths increase. He said it is a step toward ensuring safer travel for all road users.
The district attorney’s office said it planned to issue written guidance in the coming days, provide training to law enforcement agencies on evidence standards, and begin tracking crash referrals and outcomes in serious pedestrian and bicycle cases.
Sartoris said the goal is consistent accountability when serious harm occurs on the road.
“If you walk or bike responsibly, you should be able to get home alive,” she said in the release.