What began as an evening walk for a couple ended in disaster Monday night. Just after 7, a man and a woman who have yet to be publicly identified were hit by a car and badly injured at the intersection of West and Hunnewell streets. The pedestrians, both in their 50s, were crossing West Street when a car driving toward Webster Street struck them, police said.
The two victims sustained serious, but not life-threatening, injuries, according to police. “Last I heard they were being treated for lower extremity and some upper extremity,” said Deputy Chief Chris Baker. “Definite fractures.” They are being treated at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston.
The driver, who was also not named publicly, was a 23-year-old Boston man, police said. He left the scene, then returned with his mother about an hour later. He is being charged on four counts: leaving the scene of a personal injury crash; negligent operation of a motor vehicle; operating a motor vehicle with a suspended registration, and operating a motor vehicle without insurance.
As more vehicular accidents occur in town, areas of particular concern are being identified. This intersection, however, does not have a history with the Needham Transportation Safety Committee, said TSC Chair Justin McCullen. “There is very unfortunate geometry,” he said of the location. “The town is looking into seeing what kinds of improvements can be done.”
McCullen explained that the sharp angle where Hunnewell Street meets West Street has dangerous sightlines, and a driver checking for cars might not clearly see pedestrians. “What they’re doing is looking left to see if cars are approaching, not looking in front or to the right to cross the street,” he said.
One possible solution would be similar to what was done at the intersection of Harris and Dedham avenues to force a wider, more predictable turn. The impediment, however, would be the partnership required with private homeowners. “A lot of these improvements involve cooperation with abutters,” he said. In this case, driveways would need to be moved.
Residents wishing to report a safety issue in one of Needham’s public ways can fill out a Transportation Safety Committee Concern Form.
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