RSS FeedWaPo: Metrobus Strikes Two Pedestrians Yesterday
This has been covered extensively by big media, but we’ve set aside a post for everyone to discuss yesterday’s pedestrian tragedy at 7th & Penn NW.
Update: The WaPo has another story about the dangerous intersection.
If you enjoyed this post, please consider leaving a comment or subscribing to the feed and get future articles delivered to your feed reader.
Comments
I was so saddened to read about the accident. Martha Schoenborn’s husband has a beautiful tribute to his wife at http://www.schoenborn.net.
I work very close to that intersection. Both the intersections at 7th and Penn and 9th and Penn are very dangerous for pedestrians, as cars making left turns from either direction are usually whipping around the corners trying to make the light. This is largely why a lot of people jaywalk in the middle of the block – at what would be 8th and Penn – cuz it often seems safer than trying to dodge the crazy traffic. There was a similar accident in the same spot 2-3 years ago. Hopefully these kinds of issues will all be addressed by the Mayor’s new pedestrian plan. With so many residents *and* tourists walking in this neighborhood, we need to do something to make it safer.
i work near 6th and E and everyone said today that this afternoon two people were shot or something on or by the d6 bus at that corner. don’t see anything on washpost. anyone know what happened?
There are now a number of signs up at 7th and Penn stating that turning vehicles must yield to pedestrians.
I didn’t see any ohters on the walk down 7th from H Street to the National Gallery.
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.
The accident yesterday is a tragedy, but could also have happened by a taxi or motorist.
As a Penn Quarter Resident, I have had many close encounters in the middle of the crosswalk, with the walk signal in my favor. (more often by taxi drivers)
The cross walk in front of the Building Museum and Judiciary square metro station is another dangerous cross walk. Just last week, I had to jump out of the way more than once to avoid a car speeding down the street, across the walk, with pedestrians coming from both directions.
According to what I read about the accident, the pedestrian had the WALK sign and the traffic turning left had a green light. Perhaps the lights need to be coordinated better to prevent this problem.
All motorist and all pedestrians need to cross these walks with extreme caution. Pedestrians may have the “right of way”, but many drivers are not always aware of why pedestrians are crossing the street. Apparently, we all must take resposnibility. On the other hand, if I am already in the middle of the crosswalk, I have no idea why motorists are still trying to drive around the pedestrians.