12 May 2011
Hamilton Police investigating the death of an elderly woman on a busy City street early yesterday evening believe her death is all the more tragic in that it could have been avoided.
Waikato District Road Policing Manager, Inspector Leo Tooman, said emergency services were called to the scene at the north end of Victoria St, near the BP service station, about 4.45pm.
"Police were called to reports of a person being struck down by a car and arrived to find the 91-year-old woman seriously injured at the scene, she died overnight in Waikato Hospital."
Mr Tooman said though it was raining at the time the woman was struck there was still good visibility and Police believe had a number of factors been considered the outcome could have been different.
"The woman appears to have been crossing the road to get to a bus stop, instead of using a pedestrian crossing or using the lights at a controlled intersection she chose to walk across a banked up line of traffic.
"Though it was raining there was good visibility but the driver still failed to notice the woman as she crossed the road in what was a period of peak traffic, despite her wearing light coloured clothing and carrying a white umbrella."
Mr Tooman said while the incident was still being investigated by the Serious Crash Unit a number of things had already become apparent.
"Those are firstly, the value of driving with your headlights on, it makes your car more visible to other road users, including pedestrians. Secondly elderly people need to realise they are not as mobile and quick as they used to be and the safest way to get across a street is to use controlled intersections or pedestrian crossings. Lastly all road users need to maintain a high degree of situational awareness no matter if you're in a car, on a bike or on foot."
"It is tragic someone who has lived such a long and varied life had to die in this way."
End