crash_reports: 2000000545

On 09/21/20 at 14:46 hours, I (Traffic Unit # 523) responded to the parking lot of 88 Chestnut Street for a motor vehicle accident involving a pedestrian. The weather at the time was 60 degrees ( localconditions.com) and the sky was clear and sunny. The road surface was dry. The parking lot is a thru way that the public use to enter/exit the lot or park there. On arrival at the same time with the Fire and Medics, I observed a female laying in the middle of the lot facing down on her back. A small red and gray CVS like type shopping carriage was knocked over and resting on it's side in front of the victim's head. The carriage was moved to the side in order to tend to the victim I also observed a black Honda Civic bearing MA reg.# 3741TW that was involved in the accident. The Honda was out of the parking spot resting approximately two feet away from the pedestrian's legs. I then spoke to the pedestrian identified as Darla Gipson in the rear of the ambulance. She sustained an abrasion to her front left shoulder and arm area which I observed. She also complained of left knee and elbow pain. She stated that she walking through the middle of the parking lot pushing the carriage by the door entrance in a westerly direction towards Chestnut Street. She states that she never saw a vehicle backing up and then she was suddenly struck and believes she was pushed underneath the vehicle. She was then transported to Newton Wellesley Hospital by Cataldo Ambulance. I then spoke to the operator of the Honda Civic identified as Linda Burke (MA S70320414). Ms. Burke was parked in the first spot to the right of the walkway that leads to the entrance/exit doorway. I asked her what occurred and she stated that she was backing her vehicle up to exit the parking lot when she looked behind her not seeing anything in sight. She then started backing up and struck the pedestrian without realizing it. She says the driver of a green cab and his female customer who were no longer on scene were yelling at her to stop her vehicle because the pedestrian was underneath it. She then stopped her vehicle. I observed minor scrapes to the entire rear bumper of the vehicle so it is unknown where it actually struck the pedestrian/carriage. I observed no obvious signs of damage to the carriage. It should be noted that Ms. Burke's Honda does not have a back up camera or back up sensors. There are no surveillance cameras to the apartment complex and no witnesses came forward for the accident. As a result of the investigation, Ms. Burke will be issued Uniform Citation # T1271069 for Newton City Ordinance 19-75 Failure To Use Care in Backing. Digital photos were taken by me of the scene.