1 killed, 1 injured in latest Worcester crash involving pedestrians - MASHAHER

(This story has been updated to provide new information.)

WORCESTER — A 35-year-old Auburn woman died and another person was injured as a result of a pedestrian crash on Tuesday night.

The following description of the crash comes from police:

The crash occurred near the intersection of South Ludlow and Clover streets just before 10 p.m. According to a police spokesperson, responding officers located both of the female victims and rendered medical aid.

Both victims were transported to the hospital. Police did not identify either victim.

One of the victims was pronounced dead at the hospital while the other suffered less serious injuries.

A preliminary investigation found that the vehicle was traveling south on South Ludlow Street toward Auburn. The two victims were crossing the street and were struck by the vehicle, which then struck another vehicle.

The investigation is ongoing.

On Wednesday afternoon, a small memorial with balloons and flowers could be seen on South Ludlow Street at a bus stop.

Spray paint highlighting skid marks and other evidence was visible by the intersection. The skid marks appear to have made their way onto the sidewalk. The locations where shoes were found were also marked.

The fatal crash is the latest serious crash in a city that has been reeling from a summer of high-profile crashes.

In June, a 13-year-old girl, Gianna Rose Simoncini, was fatally struck by a motor vehicle while crossing Belmont Street and a 1-year-old girl suffered a head injury after she was struck by a vehicle on Lincoln Street.

In July, a 26-year-old man suffered serious injuries while riding a stand-up electric scooter on June Street and 13-year-old Ayuen Leet was in a weeks-long coma after she was struck by a car as she was attempting to cross Shrewsbury Street. Leet later awoke from the coma.

On Sept. 2, a scooter rider suffered serious injuries after he was struck by a vehicle on Grove Street.

On Sept. 10, a motorcycle rider from Westborough was killed after colliding with another vehicle on Shrewsbury Street. Police say the initial investigation indicated that the motorcyclist had been speeding.

The crashes led to City Manager Eric D. Batista and Mayor Joseph M. Petty declaring a “road safety and traffic violence crisis.” The City Council and the Board of Health have made similar declarations.

The city is awaiting a Vision Zero report on the worst streets in the city for serious crashes and preventative measures. The City Council also approved a reduction to the statutory speed limit from 30 mph to 25 mph.

The reduction needs to be signed off by the state Department and Transportation and new signs must be installed before it goes into effect.

District 5 City Councilor Etel Haxhiaj, who represents South Ludlow Street and has been one of the most vocal advocates for traffic calming measures in the city, said on X, formerly known as Twitter, that more work must be done to address road safety.

“These many deaths on our street is traumatic and devastating. We need rapid undoing of decades-long infrastructure for roads that were designed to be hostile to pedestrians, while prioritizing moving cars,” Haxhiaj said. “Whatever the circumstances, we have surpassed crisis levels. It is my absolute intention to ensure we are allocating appropriate amounts of funding to (the Department of Transportation & Mobility) for redesign and infrastructure improvements that need major interventions.”

The preliminary investigation revealed that a vehicle was traveling south on South Ludlow St towards Auburn. Two pedestrians crossed the street and were struck by the vehicle, which then continued to strike another vehicle. The incident is under investigation.

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