Posted on Sat, Dec 29, 2012 : 6:48 a.m.
Pedestrian killed while crossing Carpenter Road
By Paula Gardner
A 23-year-old Tecumseh woman died Friday night after she was struck by a vehicle while she was crossing Carpenter Road near Ann Arbor.
The incident took place at about 9:30 p.m., according to Pittsfield Township police.
The woman was crossing Carpenter south of Washtenaw when she was hit by the vehicle, which was southbound on the road.
Rescue crews and accident investigators were on the scene for several hours, prompting a road closure between Washtenaw and Central Boulevard.
The driver was not injured, according to police.
Further details were not available early Saturday.
Anyone who witnessed this accident is asked to contact the Pittsfield Township Department of Public Safety at 734-822-4911.
Comments
Honest Abe
Sat, Dec 29, 2012 : 4:58 p.m.
Just as a suggestion, and some out here may think it's petty, but perhaps more tickets should be written for people who choose to J-Walk or who fail to use a proper cross walk. Yes pedestrians have the 'right of way' but if they happen to try and beat my car by just as I'm coming up on them, there is a good chance that someone is going to get seriously injured or killed (not saying that's what happened in this case). Sometimes it is impossible to judge the speed of a vehicle when it's coming directly at you, too. I will be the first to tell you that I cannot stand it when politicians and governments, whether on a local or federal level, come up with new laws for the sake of coming up with new laws! BUT- Something must be done to deter people from trying to cross roads, especially 5 lane roads where they could be hit and possibly killed!! Not only does their family have to receive the terrible news and deal with the loss of a loved one, but the driver suffers and pays a price too, whether it is stress, PTSD, going to counseling and just knowing alone, that they took a life, even if it was not their fault. In my opinion, every time you cross a road on foot, without a crossing signal or cross walk such as the spot where this poor girl lost her life, you are playing 'chicken' with traffic. Something must be done because every time I turn around and read the news, I'm hearing about a pedestrian being killed.
grimmk
Sat, Dec 29, 2012 : 5:42 p.m.
Pedestrians have a right of way only at certain locations such as a cross walk (with or without a light). If they are crossing the road with no cross walk then the car has the right of way and the pedestrian must yield to it. This accident didn't happen in a cross walk. I came upon it a few hours later and had to turn around in the Bob Evans' parking lot.
Honest Abe
Sat, Dec 29, 2012 : 4:41 p.m.
I drove by there last night, and could see them covered up with a sheet. I felt awful knowing someone was under it. It looked like it was directly across the street from the oil change shop and Bob Evans.
Sara
Sat, Dec 29, 2012 : 4:33 p.m.
I saw the area the police cordoned off. It included the crosswalk on Carpenter south of Washtenaw and extended to just before the Bob Evans driveway. There were at least five police cars and an ambulance, most of them were near Palm Palace. The ambulance was pretty quiet and still, which lead me to believe the outcome wasn't good. I am sorry to read that my suspicions were true. While I don't know exactly what happened since I was not a witness, but I don't see anything in the article that specifically says she was jaywalking or not. The crosswalk on Carpenter is technically south of Washtenaw. Either way, it is very sad. While this has no bearing on this I have previously witnessed lots of jaywalking on Carpenter and Washtenaw, most of seems concentrated in Pittsfield and near Arborland. I see people jaywalk even when there are traffic lights and crosswalks close by. Sometimes at traffic lights, people will walk between the cars to cross the road. Drivers aren't much better with safety or courtesy. I often witness cars pulling into intersections to turn before pedestrians completely cross the street. This is both dangerous and intimidating. Several times, I will be waiting for someone to cross the street before making a right turn, while people honk their horns behind me. ,
Jamie Pitts
Sat, Dec 29, 2012 : 4:33 p.m.
May she rest in peace. This is one of the car-centric, pedestrian-unfriendly zones that are not upgraded unless tragedy strikes. We can point to personal responsibility, but people are not perfect. A lot of harm can be reduced by thoughtful street design. Shame on those who originally designed and built these roads without considering the social impact.
sellers
Sat, Dec 29, 2012 : 4:26 p.m.
Wishes go out to both families. It can be very traumatic to hit and injure someone.
Amy Biolchini
Sat, Dec 29, 2012 : 4:21 p.m.
The Washtenaw County Road Commission, working at the request of Pittsfield Township in response to a pedestrian fatality and near-miss in 2010 on Carpenter, has plans for several mid-block pedestrian crossings on that stretch of Carpenter Road between Washtenaw Avenue and Packard. Originally, it sounded like the crossings would be installed in 2012, but the Road Commission decided to wait to install the crossings until 2014, when a $1.75 million reconstruction project of the approx. 40-year-old portion of Carpenter Road is planned to start so they wouldn't have to tear out their work on the crossings. Do you think they should have waited? The new pedestrian mid-block crossing installed on Carpenter Road this fall is just south of the Carpenter and Packard intersection.
Basic Bob
Sat, Dec 29, 2012 : 5:34 p.m.
The main roads in Pittsfield are a disaster, especially the first mile of Carpenter Road. This should have been rebuild in 2004, not 2014. Also Washtenaw, Michigan Avenue, State Road, and Ellsworth are all way over capacity. They all grade "F" during rush hour. Ypsi township is slightly better. My concern of additional mid-block crossings is how that will impact left turns. It could force more cars to block traffic lanes and increase the number of rear-end collisions. I trust that the traffic engineers will consider this; the county road commission is far superior to Ann Arbor in terms of trusting the collective engineering experience and studies rather than political fire prevention. Unfortunately the traffic studies don't consider the improper use of the center turn lane for acceleration, although many drivers use it that way.
Mary Keeley
Sat, Dec 29, 2012 : 4:12 p.m.
There are no crossings on Carpenter between Washtenaw and Packard. That is a long stretch of road to have to walk to those main streets to cross. I live in the area. Since I moved there,(almost 20 years ago) they added two traffic lights and now a pedestrian crossing to Carpenter south of Packard, but nothing north of Packard. I also wish we would all be aware of how hard it is to see someone at night in dark coats. Though even when there are multiple places with lights I still see people in dark clothes darting out in the middle of the blocks
Goofus
Sat, Dec 29, 2012 : 4:05 p.m.
I hope they don't put in one of those horridly confusing flashing LED lights like they now have on Plymouth Road (near N. Campus) to remedy this. Those are meant as a fix, but if no clear indication to drivers or pedestrians whether to stop or not.
Dog Guy
Sat, Dec 29, 2012 : 3:31 p.m.
This is very sad news. My sympathy and prayers to the victim's family and to the driver.
SonnyDog09
Sat, Dec 29, 2012 : 3:01 p.m.
I see pedestrians jaywalking to cross Carpenter on that stretch way too often.
Tracy
Sat, Dec 29, 2012 : 2:56 p.m.
No-one should have to loose his/her life because of crossing the road. We all need to be more vigilant when driving, walking, riding our bikes, etc...I happen to work on Carpenter Road and know there is a crosswalk directly in front of the high-rise and mobile home part and unfortunately many times I see people still darting across the road and not using the crosswalk (which I believe is close to Central Blvd). I have also been in that crosswalk, with lights flashing with cars not stopping. Again, we all need to talk personal responsibility for ourselves no matter what forms of transportation we are taking. I am sorry for the young woman who lost her life and pray for her friends and family as they mourn their loss.
Tracy
Sat, Dec 29, 2012 : 2:57 p.m.
Sorry, I was wrong about the street location. I should have looked at a map before posting.
leaguebus
Sat, Dec 29, 2012 : 2:56 p.m.
That part of Carpenter has no safe spot that pedestrians can stop if they get halfway across and cannot get all the way across. All those lanes are usually heavily traveled. I really can't see how that area could be made safe for pedestrians. About the only answer would be to walk down to the corner and cross with the light.
MRunner73
Sat, Dec 29, 2012 : 3:51 p.m.
I agree with you. I would think at 9:30 PM, the rush hour peak would be over and also past the dinner hour peak at local restaurants as well. Crossing at the corner could have avoided the tragady.
Basic Bob
Sat, Dec 29, 2012 : 3:12 p.m.
There is a safe spot to cross at the corner of Carpenter and Washtenaw. Well lit, predictable traffic flow, marked crosswalks, and pedestrians signals.
MRunner73
Sat, Dec 29, 2012 : 2:40 p.m.
Sounds like it may have been more driver error. Crossing on foot on any 5 lane road is dangerous. The location of this incident is very hazardous but I think it is well lit at night.
sellers
Sat, Dec 29, 2012 : 4:28 p.m.
Without knowing how the person was it, it's hard to say. Did they cross without looking? Where they crossing and this person turned right, or switched lanes? We just don't know.
PT
Sat, Dec 29, 2012 : 2:37 p.m.
Pedestrians need to be on alert too...it is hard to see them..
dading dont delete me bro
Sat, Dec 29, 2012 : 2:08 p.m.
i think they should close carpenter rd. if cars are not allowed on it, this would not happen repeatedly.
Michigan Man
Sat, Dec 29, 2012 : 1:32 p.m.
Was in Ann Arbor over Christmas - Old Townie type - although it was very quiet - lots of folks gone - Ann Arbor car traffic/biker/walker methodology just really sucks. Quite bad. Really gone down hill over the years. No one has any idea what to do on Stadium on the west side of town. Cross the street? Run across the street and pray? Have lunch by one of the flower boxes in the middle of stadium? Just a total mess. My condolences to the family of this person. Read all the time now about people getting hit and killed in Ann Arbor. The Stadium brige took what 20 months or so to construct - all of three hundred yards or so? WWII was almost won in the same time. Ann Arbor leadership just not getting done to serve the people.
stevek
Sat, Dec 29, 2012 : 5:24 p.m.
TDW--I totally agree. Don't have a clue what this post relates.
Goober
Sat, Dec 29, 2012 : 3:40 p.m.
Tis true - that our city leadership leaves much to be desired.
Brad
Sat, Dec 29, 2012 : 2:53 p.m.
The bridge took almost exactly 12 months, which is sort of like "20 months or so". And I'm sure if we'd had the staff that they had in WWII they could've shaved some time off that. Have another Mimosa and get back to us, eh?
Mark
Sat, Dec 29, 2012 : 1:52 p.m.
West Stadium is a huge improvement, and as far as the bridge goes, it is wonderful, and a huge difference from the decrepit and embarrassing bridge that we endured for too long. However, none of that has anything to do with the unfortunate accident on Carpenter.
tdw
Sat, Dec 29, 2012 : 1:39 p.m.
Uh.....Ok not sure what your comment has to do with Carpenter rd in Pittsfield twp.
Billy
Sat, Dec 29, 2012 : 1:09 p.m.
If it was just south of the intersection, that's right by the hotels and restaurants that are there. There's also terrible street lighting there for the 5 lane road that it is....thing is with all the snow on the ground it shouldn't be THAT dark....
gladys
Sat, Dec 29, 2012 : 1:04 p.m.
Where on Carpenter Road was she? I thought that new pedestrian crossing spot was going to help pedestrians.
Amy Biolchini
Sat, Dec 29, 2012 : 4:22 p.m.
gladys, good point. I posted a comment below about the status of pedestrian mid-block crossings if you want any additional info.
Paula Gardner
Sat, Dec 29, 2012 : 1:11 p.m.
About a mile north of that crossing, close enough to Washtenaw that rescue crews were staged at the Palm Palace restaurant.