Update: The boy has since passed away.
On April 12, James Elek Maples, 10, of Waldorf, passed away as a result of injuries he sustained after being struck by a car on April 10 in the 2700 block of McDaniel Road in Waldorf.
There's more on this on NBC4
Police say a Nissan Altima was traveling south on McDaniel Road when the female driver hit a 10-year-old boy who crossing the street on his bicycle in a crosswalk. The child was transported to Children’s Hospital.
The 10-year-old boy was with his mother at friends when the crash happened. He was wearing a bicycle helmet.
NBC4 reports that the driver didn't stop until after the collision, meaning she never saw him until she hit him, but so far there is no evidence that she was on her phone. They also report that the road has a well known speeding problem and that it was the driver's birthday - but no signs of alcohol.
Very sad. Praying for this child and family.
Posted by: D | April 13, 2016 at 08:54 AM
I don't know if this is the exact crosswalk or direction, but here is a a streetview of the perspective of the driver.
https://www.google.com/maps/@38.6273864,-76.9440828,3a,75y,137.98h,91.16t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1se51yFDHBrfX-Z_BaMg94Zw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656
Of course drivers are going to speed on that road -- it is designed for highway speeds.
Meanwhile, here's what McDaniel Road used to look like (streetview Oct 2012).
https://www.google.com/maps/@38.6319132,-76.948152,3a,75y,91.16t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sD7_4Plzb5JJxCKSd6OAJAA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656
The old road was a narrow rural road designed for slow traffic, farm equipment etc. Drivers pay attention on those sorts of roads.
The new road is designed to forgive speeding and distracted driving. Although it is new and "improved" it is far less safe for everyone except the late-night drunk.
The traffic and civil engineers who design and sign off on conversion of slow farm roads into speedways through subdivisions are the ones who should be brought up on criminal charges here.
Posted by: Greenbelt | April 13, 2016 at 10:46 AM
@Greenbelt
Interesting before & after pictures.
Of course developers need to have these farm lanes converted to near interstate roads. The only way one can make life work in these far flung exurbs is to be able to drive as fast as possible for as long as possible.
In the NBC video I'll note the the weeds along the road are quite high. They could have partially obscured vision for both the driver and the pedestrians.
Posted by: Jeffb | April 13, 2016 at 11:23 AM
Sad news update: the child died.
I rode through there a couple of weeks ago, and I remember passing through the spot where the child was hit.
Where McDaniel Road passes over Piney Branch (I typed this before watching the video):
- heading southbound, the trail switches from the west side of the road to the east side
- there is a trail crossing that features 90-degree turns for trail users
- the crossing is at the bottom of a hill on both sides
Given these points, a driver going even slightly above the speed limit will have more difficulty in stopping (this is not an excuse). Of course, slowing down is always an option that seems to be forgotten.
The best solution to me to help prevent future collisions would be to widen that crossing so that a pedestrian refuge island could be installed in the middle. That would narrow the lanes which would help slow drivers down (I'd recommend this for all of the crossings along McDaniel Rd).
Posted by: bobco85 | April 13, 2016 at 06:44 PM
Yeah, I'm adding the links and modifying the post. I don't disagree with any of your suggestions, but my spidey senses suspect there was some phone reading going on out there. The only way you can not see someone crossing the street as part of a group is that you aren't looking. I also expect speeding to come back as a factor.
That, or they were literally asleep at the wheel.
That poor mother. Watching something like that....uhhh, I can't imagine.
Posted by: washcycle | April 13, 2016 at 11:15 PM
Meanwhile, the driver who accidentally killed a cop is pleading guilty and will get 5 years in jail. I just wish that prosecutors would be tougher when regular people were killed.
Posted by: SJE | April 14, 2016 at 05:22 PM