Brookline Pedestrian Crash Victims Speak Out, Call On Town To Act

BROOKLINE, MA — On March 16, Brookline resident Michelle Amazeen was walking her dog south on Harvard Street and began crossing onto Vernon Street when she was hit by an SUV.

According to the accident report, the SUV was stopped at a stop sign on Vernon Street and was waiting to turn onto Harvard Street, but Amazeen didn’t see a turn signal and began to walk through the crosswalk. She only got halfway across when the vehicle began to turn.

"I started walking through the intersection and it just happened so fast,” Amazeen said. "I was halfway through the intersection and it started to accelerate. “It hit me in the left arm and spun me around and I fell on my head. My first thought was, ‘The pavement is so hard.’ I was lying in the middle of the street and was panicked.”

Passersby gathered around Amazeen following the crash and helped her move to the side of the road, she said. They called 911, the police showed up, and Amazeen was taken to the hospital for her head injury.

“Miraculously, I did not have a concussion and no broken bones, but my hand had this huge swelling, it was like I had an egg on my hand, and I had a black eye for a couple weeks, black and blue marks on my arm, and a sprained ankle. My left hand is still bothering me."

A few days later, Amazeen spoke to a police officer, who told her the driver was cited but didn’t disclose what for. She said she asked for a copy the police report, but the officer refused and said, “I’ll tell you everything you need to know.”

Amazeen is far from the only pedestrian who has been hit by a vehicle in Brookline recently. One of the most notable cases was the death of 63-year-old Patricia Arellano, who was killed in November after being struck by a vehicle while in the crosswalk at the corner of Washington Street and Downing Road.

At a Transportation Board meeting shortly after Arellano was killed, several locals spoke about similar incidents, including a woman who was struck at the intersection of Longwood Avenue and Kent Street and a child who was struck at Stearns Road and St. Paul Street.

In addition, several residents, some who wish to remain anonymous, recently told Patch their stories of being hit by vehicles in Brookline.

“I was walking home from work down pleasant street on my way towards Coolidge crossing John street,” one resident said. "I was in the crosswalk and I heard an engine accelerating to my left, so I looked and all I could see were headlights coming at me. There was absolutely nothing I could have done so I braced myself.”

This particular resident was sore from the crash, but not seriously hurt as the driver was able to hit their brakes fast enough to prevent knocking over the victim.

"I was really, really angry and I remember saying something to that effect,” the resident said. "They were a little concerned, but automatically I was blamed because I was wearing dark clothing at night. I was upset that they were blaming me and they were freaked out and begging me not to call the cops.”

Another resident was hit in a crosswalk at the intersection of Washington and Beacon Streets because the driver was texting and didn’t see the walk sign.

“...it was daylight, and I was walking a large dog,” the resident said. "Witnesses stayed to tell the police what they saw. The driver was fined $150. I had injuries to my knees and hands, my dog was not hit. I’m recovered.”

Sam Kauffmann, a film professor at Boston University, was hit by a vehicle near Cypress Street after getting off the Green Line at the Brookline Hills stop.

“It was nighttime and there were a bunch of us crossing the crosswalk,” Kauffmann said. "I looked down the street and there was a car pretty far away, so I started to cross. All of a sudden this car is racing towards me, so I start to run and almost make it across the street when the car hits me in the left hip and sends me flying. I thought my hip was broken. The pain was excruciating.”

Kauffmann said the driver stopped and an investigation determined that the accident was his fault. The driver’s insurance paid for the ambulance, but Kauffmann said he does not remember any further citations.

So what should be done?

Following the death of Arellano, Transportation Board Chair Brian Kane suggested the adoption of a Vision Zero policy of "no humans killed by cars" by pledging a commitment of enforcement, design engineering, and money.

He also requested that Transportation Director Todd Kirrane implement a pedestrian-exclusive crossing phase and an extension of pedestrian protected corners at Longwood Avenue and Kent Street, as well as monitoring of traffic backups into Boston on Longwood, on an experimental basis.

According to Kirrane, the Select Board passed a resolution committing to appointing a Vision Zero Committee to work with Town staff and a consultant to develop a Vision Zero Policy and plan for the town. They also committed approximately $200,000 for consulting dollars for that purpose. The estimated start date for the project is this summer.

However, because every pedestrian crash case has happened under different circumstances, victims have their own ideas about what should be done and how soon.

“My feeling is that they really haven’t done anything about it yet,” Amazeen said. "There are solutions out there, its just whether Brookline has the will to put pedestrians first rather than automobiles.”

Amazeen suggested raised crosswalks and permanent pedestrian lights, "even if they need to be installed every 50 feet on Harvard Street.”

“It's a pedestrian friendly neighborhood and people want to be able to walk around without having to get mowed down,” she said.

An anonymous victim said crosswalks should be better lit and the speed of drivers needs to be regulated a lot better.

“It was incredibly frustrating to be at the mercy of drivers who for one reason or another simply aren’t paying attention to the enormous amount of people around here who walk,” they said.

Kauffmann said distracted driving is one of the most serious issues when it comes to pedestrian crashes and he hopes sharing his story will make people think before they get behind the wheel.

"I do feel like back in the day people really concentrated when they drove, but now the distractions are incredible,” he said. “It's like they can’t take that phone out of their hand. I think part of it is that people are not driving as safely as they used to.”

In addition, Kauffman said crosswalks need to be more clearly marked and even redefined, as drivers usually do not face any repercussions for speeding through them.

"I think it's unclear to people what the crosswalk means,” he said. Does that mean I have to stop or should stop? I think there’s confusion in peoples minds and clarity on that issue would help the drivers and pedestrians. If I knew that drivers don't have to stop, it would make me a lot more hesitant to enter a crosswalk.”