Andover Intersection Where Fatal Incident Took Place Being Evaluated

ANDOVER, MA — Andover Town Manager Andrew Flanagan revealed this week that there are multiple initiatives underway to evaluate pedestrian safety in Elm Square.

The announcement, made at Monday's Select Board meeting, comes after the death of 5-year-old Sidney Olson, who was fatally struck by a tractor-trailer while crossing at Main Street and Elm Street with a family member on May 9.

Olson's family said in a statement that the "Walk" sign showed it was safe to cross when their daughter was killed.

The truck driver reportedly stayed at the scene and cooperated with police. No charges or citations have been filed and are pending the completion of the crash investigation, according to authorities.

Flanagan said efforts to evaluate the intersection already were taking place before the tragic incident.

On May 1, Town Meeting approved funding for a comprehensive traffic study of the intersection.

Though that funding would not typically be available until July 1, Flanagan said he authorized the work to begin immediately.

According to the officials, the study will thoroughly examine traffic patterns, pedestrian movement, and existing signalization and provide recommendations for safety enhancements in the intersection.

Additionally, officials said, data collection has already been initiated by the Town's consultant, TEC, which is the first step in the study.

Flanagan said the study process will include multiple public input sessions, the first of which likely will take place in mid-June.

Flanagan also revealed that the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) will conduct a road safety audit of the area.

MassDOT's involvement, Flanagan said, could expedite state approval of signal changes and other traffic calming measures put forward by the town's own study.

Flanagan also highlighted other recent developments in Andover designed to improve safety on streets, including the planned re-establishment of the Traffic Enforcement Unit within the Andover Police Department and the implementation of the townwide 25-mile-per-hour speed limit in thickly settled areas.

"Our commitment to pedestrian safety has never been greater, and it's only been strengthened in the past week. I think you'll see that reflected in the weeks and months ahead," Flanagan said at the Select Board meeting.

Also at the meeting, Andover Police Chief Patrick Keefe provided an update about the investigation into the tragic May 9 incident that resulted in Olson's death.

Keefe said that according to preliminary information, signalization at the intersection was working properly and that the truck's speed was not a factor, nor did the truck experience a mechanical malfunction.

A spokesman for the Essex County District Attorney's Office said this week that the Massachusetts State Police (MSP) continues to complete and file its Accident Reconstruction Report relating to the incident. MSP still was doing site work as recently as this past weekend, the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson called the Accident Reconstruction Report a "pretty detailed document" and said it could be a matter of months before it is complete.