Law enforcement gives pedestrian road safety tips following fatal crash in Columbia
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Columbia police was alerted to an accident on Saturday near East Broadway and North First Street, where a pedestrian was hit and pronounced dead at the scene.
According to a press release from Columbia Police Department, a Honda Civic was going westbound on East Broadway when the pedestrian was walking eastbound in the turn lane. The release states Brady L. Ewing was hit when he walked into the passing lane of westbound traffic. Ewing died in the crash. He was 55.
In the Sunday press release, CPD gave additional tips for pedestrian road safety.
"If you’re walking, be alert and take care when crossing the road, especially at night. Wear high-visibility clothing and, where possible, cross streets at crosswalks or intersections," the statement said.
According to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there were eight total fatalities in Columbia in 2021, the most recent year for available data. That was an increase from seven in 2020, according to the NHTSA and Columbia City Council agendas.
There was a total of 20 fatality crashes in Boone County in 2021, up from 10 in 2020, according to the data.
In 2017, the City of Columbia finalized the Vision Zero project. The project's goal is to eliminate traffic fatalities by 2030. In February 2023, the city received a $1.4 million grant to improve road safety. Nationwide, 7,388 pedestrians were killed in 2021, according to information from the NHTSA.
According to NHTSA data, there were two traffic fatalities involving pedestrians in 2021 in Columbia. That's down since 2017. In 2017, there were three fatal crashes in Columbia, one in 2018, seven in 2019 and three in 2020.
Missouri Highway Patrol Sgt, Kyle Green said drivers need to be more careful when it comes to people crossing the road.
"Be extra diligent when driving, traveling in dark areas or maybe where there aren't any street lights, something where somebody may be crossing the street and it's hard to see them, you know, at night time," Green said.
Pedestrians still be on the look out for vehicle, even when you have the right of way in a crosswalk, Green said.
"The vehicle may be in an attempt to run a red light or making a turn and not see that pedestrian at all," Green said. "So as a pedestrian, you need to make sure that you keep your head on a swivel and constantly be looking in both directions of traffic just to make sure that the vehicles that are approaching you are, in fact, not going are going to stop. Because ultimately, if they don't stop, the pedestrian is always going to lose in that crash."
In 2023 there have been around 27 traffic accidents involving pedestrians with two of them resulting in deaths, according to Missouri State Highway Patrol. In 2022, there were 21 pedestrian-related accidents with one fatality.
