crash_reports: 2000000087

On Thursday, January 23, 2020 while assigned to Traffic unit N525, I responded to the intersection of Brookline Street and Hartman Road, Newton for a report of a motor vehicle/pedestrian crash involving a City of Newton Crossing Guard. The weather at the time of the crash was overcast. The road surface where the crash took place was dry. Brookline Street and Hartman Road are both public ways maintained by the City of Newton. On arrival, the injured pedestrian was in the process of being transported to Newton Wellesley Hospital with minor injuries. I spoke with the operator of the vehicle involved in the crash, Menachem Uminer (S43996134). Uminer stated he was operating his vehicle on Brookline Street (S) towards Hartman Road. Uminer stated he was stopped in traffic on Brookline Street prior to the crash. Uminer stated the vehicle in front of him proceeded to travel straight from it's stopped position and he then began to follow the traffic on Brookline Street. Uminer stated he did not see anyone in the vicinity of his vehicle as he began to travel straight from his stopped position. Uminer stated as he was traveling by Hartman Road, the front passenger side area of his vehicle made contact with a pedestrian on the right side of Brookline Street at Hartman Road. Uminer stated he did not see this party until after they were struck and he then proceeded to pull his vehicle over. Uminer stated he was operating his vehicle at a very low speed at the time the collision took place. After speaking with Uminer, I observed the white 2017 GMC Yukon (MA: 9NX525) involved in the crash parked on Brookline Street (S) just past Hartman Road. Uminer stated the vehicle had been moved after the collision took place. I observed no obvious damage to the body of the vehicle on the front passenger side area where the collision took place. The front passenger door mirror was folded inward towards the door. Uminer stated he believes the front passenger door mirror was the point of contact between his vehicle and the pedestrian. I spoke with a witness to the crash, Ashley Garcia (S94193596). Garcia stated she was attempting to cross Brookline Street at Spaulding Lane. Garcia stated she entered the marked crosswalk and was a few steps into Brookline Street when a black colored vehicle traveling on Brookline Street (N) slammed on its brakes near the crosswalk. Garcia stated she looked to her left at the vehicle and then heard a thud to the right from the area where the crossing guard was standing near Hartman Road. Garcia stated she looked over and saw a crossing guard on the roadway on Brookline Street (S) at Hartman Road. The injured pedestrian involved in the crash is Cassandra Alexander (S23636307). Alexander is a crossing guard for the City of Newton and is assigned to the intersection of Brookline Street and Hartman Road for the Memorial Spaulding school crossings. This crash occurred while Alexander was performing her official duties. Alexander was wearing her department issued yellow reflective jacket at the time of the crash. I spoke with Alexander at Newton Wellesley Hospital where she was being treated for her injuries. Alexander stated she was performing her duties as a crossing guard at the intersection of Brookline Street and Hartman Road. Alexander stated she had just finished crossing two pedestrians in the marked crosswalk on Hartman Road when observed a pedestrian enter the crosswalk on Brookline Street at Spaulding Lane. Alexander stated she began to enter the intersection of Brookline Street at Hartman Road with her hands up and her department issued yellow reflective jacket on in an effort to stop traffic in the area to allow the pedestrian in the marked crosswalk safely cross. Alexander stated she was struck on her left side by a passing vehicle. Alexander stated she did not see the vehicle and fell to the roadway. Alexander stated as she was falling to the roadway she extended her right arm in an effort to brace her fall. Alexander stated she had injuries to her arms and legs and was sore from the collision. I spoke with a second witness to the crash via telephone, Anand Vaidya (S43996134). Vaidya stated he was stopped in traffic behind MV1 on Brookline Street (Southbound). Vaidya stated he observed the vehicle in front of MV1 proceed straight on Brookline Street after being stopped in traffic. Vaidya stated he then observed MV1 proceed straight on Brookline Street at Hartman Road at a low rate of speed. Vaidya estimated the speed of MV1 at this time to be 5 miles per hour. Vaidya stated a crossing guard was on the right side of the roadway on Brookline Street at Hartman Road wearing a yellow and black reflective jacket and snow pants. Vaidya stated the crossing guard had her back towards him and MV1, and extended her arm out to stop traffic. Vaidya stated at this time MV1 rolled by the crossing guard at a low rate of speed and the front right fender area of the vehicle hit the left rear leg/lower back area of the crossing guard. Vaidya stated the crossing guard bounced off of the car and fell to the roadway. Vaidya stated he believes MV1 was unaware he hit the crossing guard and observed the vehicle travel another 10 feet until it came to stop on Brookline Street. Vaidya stated the crossing guard was not in a marked crosswalk at the time of the crash. After speaking with all parties involved, Uminer will be cited with Massachusetts Uniform Citation T0115905 for Chapter 90, Section 14 (Failure to slow for a pedestrian in the roadway). Photos were taken of the vehicle and scene and submitted to the IT Bureau.