Longtime Stop & Shop Associate Struck Crossing Post Road Dies

NORTH KINGSTOWN, RI—A 52-year-old man has died after being struck by a car while crossing Post Road on Wednesday.

Police said Peter Munroe was pronounced dead at Rhode Island Hospital after suffering severe injuries when he was struck by a car being driven by a 56-year-old East Greenwich man who is not facing charges.

Police continue to investigate the crash, which happened near Stop and Shop and Riverhead Building Supply.

Witnesses said that Munroe was carrying groceries and crossing the street when he was struck. Friends say he worked at Stop and Shop and was reportedly catching a bus.

The incident highlights the difficulty pedestrians in some parts of North Kingstown face if they can't or don't want to use a car to get around. The area where Munroe was struck lacks sidewalks and cars approaching from the south have poor visibility of the road ahead as they drive over the bridge that carries Post Road over train tracks.

There are also no crosswalks or other pedestrian crossing markers or equipment in the area.

A co-worker, Buddy Gibson, said in a post on Facebook that Munroe always mentioned how people drove carelessly. Gibson said he rides his bike to get to the plaza and down the hill and so do many other employees of the supermarket and other stores in the nearby shopping plaza.

"I promise everybody I will be very careful," he said.

He also said the incident has compelled him and others to try to push for some pedestrian safety infrastructure be added.

Friends say they'll miss Munroe for his wit, sense of humor and willingness to engage in a lively debate.

Funeral services are to be announced.