A man was struck by an automobile as he crossed Eastern Ave. between Mocha Java and the Keystone parking lot this morning at approximately 10:30.He was taken by ambulance to the Beth Israel hospital with what officials say were “relatively minor injuries.”
According to eyewitness Daniel McCarey, the unidentified victim was crossing the street when a van made a left hand turn from High Street.The driver of the van, identified by police as Ibtissam Kastoun, appeared to be in control of the vehicle and McCarey speculated that the sun, which is strong at that time of day, may have been in her eyes.
Kastoun did not have any physical injuries but was so shaken up by the incident that she was transported to the hospital.A police officer happened to be standing on the corner and radioed in the accident within seconds, McCarey said.He said the victim appeared to be conscious and alert as they placed him in the ambulance. Police would not release the name of the officer or any further details.
That intersection has long been a concern for Town officials and for the Dedham Square Circle.Together they are applying for a $1.2 million Public Works and Economic Development (PWED) grant from the state to reengineer the vehicular and pedestrian access in the Square, including shortening the crossing distances.The crosswalk the victim was struck in is 94 feet across.
Amy Haelson, Executive Director of the Dedham Square Circle, and Karen O’Connell, Economic Development Director for the Town, have met twice with state officials to discuss the “very competitive” grant.O’Connell says the designation of the Keystone lot as a priority development site, and the high score recently received on the Commonwealth Capital assessment, will help Dedham’s chances of receiving the grant.
“This terrible accident is just another urgent reminder of why the efforts of the Town and Dedham Square Circle to secure PWED funding is so critical,” said Selectman Paul Reynolds. “We need to make changes to make the Square safer for both pedestrians and motorists.”
O’Connell was also invited to serve on the Metropolitan Area Planning Council’s Pedestrian Planning Advisory Committee.The Committee is developing the Regional Pedestrian Plan to guide the metropolitan Boston region to develop both policies and a plan of action to promote walking as practical mode of transportation. The plan follows the Regional Bicycle Plan, which was completed in 2007.
