Police: 83-year-old woman struck by pickup truck & killed near Lincoln & Howell
MILWAUKEE -- Milwaukee police say an 83-year-old Milwaukee woman was struck by a vehicle and killed on Wednesday, June 29th near Howell and Lincoln Avenue.
It happened just after 11:30 a.m.
Police say the victim was struck by a Dodge Ram pickup truck -- driven by a 59-year-old Milwaukee man. That driver remained at the scene after the crash.
The victim was in a crosswalk -- crossing Lincoln Avenue when she was hit. Friends tell FOX6 News the victim is Christa Pittman. Those who knew her say she was from Germany, but had been living in the United States for decades.
She doesn't have any family -- so her friends will now plan her funeral.
Some who live in the area said it was only a matter of time before something like this happened in the busy intersection.
"It`s just terrible," Christina Jones said.
"I was shocked. I was really shocked, because it shouldn`t have happened," Susan Santi said.
"The cars around here go too fast. They don`t stop," Maria Gonzalez said.
Gonzalez lives up the street from where this happened. She said she's feared for awhile that something like this might happen -- and said the "walk" signals aren't long enough -- especially for those with disabilities or the elderly.
Alderman Tony Zielinski says the issue is bad drivers.
"She had the signal in her favor. I don`t know what else you can do right now to prevent something like this from happening if some guy wants to just run through the light and run her over," Alderman Zielinski said.
Alderman Tony Zielinski
One future solution Zielinski said he will propose is to install surveillance cameras with radar guns.
"If these drivers know that they`re going to get tickets by violating the speed limits, they`re going to drive more carefully," Zielinski said.
Pittman's neighbors said they hope city leaders pay attention to their concerns. They don't want the woman they describe as always smiling to die in vain.
"Please do something before there is another death. I don`t want it to happen to any of my friends. God bless her," Santi said.
Fatal crash at Lincoln & Howell
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