The collision occurred in the area of 249 Milbank Avenue and was reported at about 5:20pm.
The pedestrian is a 77 year-old Greenwich resident of Agnes Morley Heights who was transported to an area hospital for treatment of injuries.
On Monday Lt Bonney and Chief Heavey participated in a workshop format meeting in the First Selectman’s office attended by residents, media and the Board of Selectmen.
The Greenwich Police Department Traffic Section is investigating a motor vehicle vs. pedestrian collision which occurred on January 8, 2020.
Chief Heavey and Lt Bonney presented a request to increase safety at the mid-block crosswalk in front of Agnes Morley where the elderly woman was hit.
Selectperson Jill Oberlander asked why the mid block crosswalk was necessary given residents can walk up or down the sidewalk to cross at a Walk/Don’t Walk signal at either Havemeyer or East Elm Street, and the walk to Greenwich Avenue would be no shorter.
Lt Bonney responded that it’s human nature to want to cross in the middle of the block.
This is not the first time an elderly person has been hit by a car in the crosswalk.
In February 2018, Robert Bono, 70, also a resident of Agnes Moreley Heights, was struck and killed by a JEEP SUV driven by an out-of-town man who was heading south on Milbank Ave.
Lt Bonney said since then a street lamp that had been was not working, has been fixed. It was illuminated when the 77-year-old woman was struck by the car last week.
“We have a lot of mid-block crosswalks in town, but this is in front of elderly housing,” Bonney continued, adding that improvements would have to go through the traffic engineering department.
Last November a 63 year old woman was hit in a crosswalk and later died from her injuries. Last week police announced they’d charged a local man, 82, with Negligent Homicide with a Motor Vehicle in the case.
He said Sean Turpin (of the Dept of Public Works) had recommended removing a tree he said blocks one sign.
“In the summer, you can’t see the signs well, and recommends installation of luminar poles and a light over the crosswalk as there is in front of town hall, and installation of a pedestrian rapid flash beacon,” he said. “They hit a button. The lights flash and it gives good warning that someone will be in the crosswalk.”
He said the cost overall would be about $25,000.
“The town concern should be that it is very dark and has decent amount of pedestrian traffic,” Bonney said. “They’re elderly and slow moving and in inclement weather it’s difficult to see them.”
Chief Heavey said there are also numerous near misses, and police seek to raise awareness of pedestrian safety.
The case of the injured woman is currently under investigation.
Anyone who may have witnessed this incident is encouraged to contact Officer Roger Drenth at (203) 622-8014.
See also:
Greenwich Police Release Name of Agnes Morley Resident Killed on Milbank Ave (Feb 8, 2018)