Wednesday, November 11, 2009

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Pedestrian struck by Boston city vehicle

BOSTON -- A female pedestrian was struck by a Boston city vehicle in Downtown Crossing Wednesday.

The 76-year-old woman was hit by the Boston Public Works Department pickup truck at the intersection of Tremont and Winter Streets in Boston.

Witnesses said she was crossing the street in a crosswalk, but the pickup truck had a green light.

"She was just walking in the street like there's no cars in the area, which you can't do. That woman that was driving that Boston Public Works truck was going too quickly definitely...and hit her flat and sent her flying and rolling and banging her head," said a witness on the scene.

Emergency crews rushed the woman to the hospital.

The Department of Public Works commissioner said the pickup truck was being driven by a sanitation inspector who has only been on the job for a couple of weeks. She has a clean driving record.

"She was very upset. If you've ever had a pedestrian accident or been involved in a near-miss, trust me, I've had that happen, you never forget it," said Dennis Royer, Public Works commissioner.

Officials are investigating.

"If she goes back to work tomorrow, she will have a desk job until the police report clears her or we do our investigation," Royer said.

Police said the victim who is listed in critical condition is fighting for her life.

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