PORTLAND, Maine —
On Saturday night, a group of teenagers was struck by a car traveling down Warren Avenue, according to Portland Police.
Officials say the crash led to the death of a 13-year-old boy and the hospitalization of two others.
Amy Burns brings her children to the plaza right across the road from where the crash happened.
“We’ve seen a lot of car accidents here. Cars drive really fast up and down this road,” Burns said.
Burns says the area has seen a steady increase in foot traffic, but before Saturday, there weren’t any pedestrian-related accidents in the direct area.
However, she said she wasn’t shocked when she heard the news. The nearest crosswalk is over a 1/4 mile away, and she says cars are constantly driving over the speed limit.
“I wasn’t, I would say surprised. I was horrified,” commented Burns. “It was really, really sad to hear. But just the amount of cars coming through this area, the lack of lighting and the lack of crosswalks and designated areas for people to be, it’s not surprising.”
Burns believes that a crosswalk and increased lighting are necessary and the way things are right now simply isn’t safe.
“It’s terrifying,” answered Burns. “It feels like I’m playing a game of Frogger. So you’re trying to time it to make sure that cars aren’t coming in.”
According to Portland P.D., an initial investigation showed that the group abruptly stepped into the road before being hit. The driver, a 48-year-old man from Portland, cooperated with officials and no charges were filed.
The Portland School District sent a letter to families stating that three members of the group involved in the incident were Deering high schoolers and the person who was killed was a student from a neighboring community.
The letter also alerted students who need help that they have access to the school’s Student Support Teams, which include counselors and social work providers.
The Maine Bicycle Coalition is also now calling for action regarding the safety of Warren Ave.
The organization released a statement: “The investigation into this crash is ongoing, and it is important not to assign blame before all of the facts are known. But one fact is already painfully clear: a child did not make it home, and two other children were seriously hurt while moving through their community.”
The group is calling on the state and the city to review the area of the accident with a specific focus on vehicle speed, lighting, road design and crosswalks.