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© 2021 The Somerville Times. All rights reserved.
~Photos by Claudia Ferro
By Jim Clark
Both the driver and the victim of Saturday’s fatal hit-and-run crash have been identified by authorities. 52-year-old Somerville resident Cheryl Pauline Richards was struck down and killed as she stepped into the crosswalk on Mystic Ave., south of Route 28 last Saturday evening.
The driver of the vehicle that struck Richards, identified by Massachusetts State Police as Zewdu Abate Gedamu, 64, of Roxbury, turned himself in to police on Sunday. Gedamu was reportedly driving a 2008 Mercedes-Benz E350 at the time of the crash.
Gedamu is expected to be arraigned today in Somerville District Court on charges of leaving the scene of a crash causing personal injury or death and a crosswalk violation. He has been ordered held on $1,000 cash bail.
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So terribly sad and yet another example of our critical need to reduce and slow traffic in our city. Crosswalks in busy congested areas are timed to keep traffic moving and give insufficient time for pedestrians. This and insufficient enforcement need a good hard look from city officials NOW.
From The Globe article on the incident.
“A Globe reporter timed how long pedestrians are given to walk and found that they have about 12 seconds to cross, with the countdown starting at eight seconds.”
It is disengenuous to tout development in the city that attracts so many people – Assembly Square, Union Square, Encore (by default) – and not make and keep the area safe for residents. Keep the promises to make this a walkable and bikeable city by insuring the safety of these groups.
So old, not right when it comes to safety. The terrible fatal accident across from the school near Powderhouse:Teele Sq.
apparently wasn’t enough of a message was it?
Overpass safety bridges such as the Arthur Fiedler bridge in Boston for the Esplanade is an idea.
Learn from the past!
Enough is enough and I can’t seem to stress safety enough.
And now this new hit and run driver is released on 1,000. ???
This is insult to injury!!!
Outrageous!
Our public officials are about as useful as tits on a bull!’
This goes for Gov Baker as well regarding 7 innocent lives lost.
Yes I’m rightfully upset and will SHOUT support for those who are deceased.
Resignation is appropriately feasible since they do nothing but talk!
Action is needed.
Let’s wait on the facts before deciding the reason for this accident. If it happened in the spot I believe it did, it is a dark spot and comes just after cars turn from McGrath Highway, headed toward 93. It’s more of a highway entrance ramp and possibly an inappropriate place for a crosswalk. Yet they are building a hotel there to encourage more drivers and pedestrians to feel it is a ‘walkable’ area.
I pray my cousin did not suffer. Her mother and the rest of the family is distraught and very dissatisfied with the the immediate outcome of this guy who hit her. $1000 bail is a joke!!!! What do you mean i didn’t see her?!?!?!
He got out and called out… “Anybody there?” This was pure manslaughter! Reckless. How does anyone leave the scene of an accident like that!?!?!?! He was obviously drunk! Cheryl was a beautiful soul cut down like an animal in the road and left to die. Shameful!!! And he walks free.. Where is the justice???
My thoughts and prayers for the victim and family. That crosswalk should have never been put there. At least without any traffic signals. Cars are speeding up to get on to 93 and I’ve seen way too many close calls in the past. Just because there are some white lines painted doesn’t mean it is 100% safe. All they do is create a FALSE SENSE OF SAFETY. That poor woman.
The whole area is unsafe for pedestrians.When I was capable of walking I tried to go to the Stop and Shop a couple of times and decided not to go that way anymore. I don’t know how more people are not being run down. From there and towards Medford it is crazy. As usual somebody has to die before it takes serious notice. Even though it is so obvious.
Didn’t they install crosswalk signals about a year ago? It’s still very confusing because they don’t use red, yellow, green, but some sort yellow and red flashing sequence. A lot more could be done to narrow the lanes, so it doesn’t encourage people to drive 50 mph. The state transportation department has known about these issues for years and refused to do anything or move more quickly. It’s a wonder more people haven’t been injured. Cheryl would be with us today if the transportation officials weren’t so incompetent and negligent.