Region Focuses on Pedestrian Safety After Woman Fatally Struck by Bus

Washington Metropolitan Transit Authority, Feb 21, 2007

A Washington, DC, woman was fatally struck by a Metrobus Saturday, February 17.
Twenty-one-year-old Angel C. Walters was exiting the rear driver’s side of a vehicle along the 1300 block of Congress Street, SE, with packages in her arms when she was struck at 11:10 p.m. by Metrobus 3941, which was operating the W2 route northbound on Congress Street headed in the direction of Washington Overlook. There were no passengers on board at the time of the incident.

“We need to move with a sense of urgency to do all we can do to prevent these accidents. That includes training and educating the public,” said Metro Board member and DC Councilman Marion Barry, who noted that the W2 stops in front of his home.

“We’re all working together to find out how we can reduce fatalities and other injuries. We are committed as a group,” aid District of Columbia Mayor Adrian Fenty.

“Metro, the District Department of Transportation, the police department and the Mayor’s office are looking at how the city can be safer,” said Jim Graham, Metro Board member and a DC Councilman. “We’ll go over dangerous intersections and will do what we can to make them safer.”

Metro Board Member and District of Columbia Department of Transportation Director Emeka Moneme said the city is working on a master pedestrian plan to make the city safer. The three major elements of the plan include engineering, enforcement of traffic and pedestrian safety laws, and educating people about what they can do to be safe. “We need drivers and pedestrians to be partners,” he said.