Municipal Crossing Guard Fatally Injured When Struck by a Car – Massachusetts

Report #: 18MA046 | Report Date: May 11, 2020

Table of Contents

Report summary and highlights

On August 30, 2018, a 67-year-old municipal crossing guard died after being struck by a motor vehicle.  At the time of the incident, the crossing guard was assisting students in getting across the roadway.

In that same section, there is a table with the following information:

Incident Highlights

 

Date

August 30, 2018

Time

3:00 p.m.

Victim

67-year-old female crossing guard

Industry/NAICS Code

Elementary school / 611110

Employer

Municipal school department

Safety & Training

Written safety program / training

Scene

Roadway in a residential area

Location

Massachusetts

Event Type

Struck-by

Contributing factors

Key contributing factors identified in this investigation include:

  • No crosswalk signage;
  • Ineffective crosswalk roadway markings that were in poor condition; and
  • Assigning crossing guards to unsignalized intersections without the appropriate traffic control measures.

Recommendations

Massachusetts FACE Program concluded that, to help prevent similar occurrences, municipalities should:

  • Ensure that, at a minimum, crosswalk traffic control signage meets the standards set forth in the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD). 
  • Consider additional measures to ensure crosswalks at unsignalized intersections and mid-block locations are clearly visible to motorists.
  • Develop and implement a comprehensive safety and health program that addresses hazard recognition and avoidance of unsafe conditions.
  • Actively work towards reducing vehicle speed on local roadways.

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Date published: May 11, 2020

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