A 62-year-old Evanston man is in stable but guarded condition at Evanston Hospital with a head injury after he was struck by a car at Benson Avenue and Elgin Road downtown Sunday night.
Police Cmdr. Joseph Dugan says the accident happened just after 7 p.m. Dugan says the driver of a Nissan Altima, a 40-year-old Chicago man, had the green light and was turning from Elgin onto southbound Benson when he struck the pedestrian who was in the crosswalk.
Dugan says the pedestrian hit the front bumper, hood and windshield of the car. Because of the severity of the injuries, the Major Crash Assistance Team was activated.
As of late Sunday night the investigation was continuing and no charges had been filed.
Update 9 a.m. 1/31/17: Dugan says the pedestrian is recovering from his injuries, and the driver of the car has been issued a traffic citation.
Very Dark
That intersection is not well lit
Most intersections not well lit
The majority of the intersections in Evanston aren’t well lit. It’s almost impossible to see most pedestrians at night.
Agreed!
One of the main reasons we moved out of Evanston was the dimly lit streets combined with large pedestrian population. Can’t remember the number of times someone in dark clothing jay walked at night right in front of our car. Evanston needs safer lighting.
Streets around NU
Many Evanston streets and intersections are poorly lit. This combined with students on bikes with no lights, students crossing streets without looking or caring that cars are coming [I guess they think cars/bikes would not dare hit them and that any NU clothing will cars to bounce off of them], heads buried in phones/texting [nothing will protect these #$%$# people] and dark clothing, means we are very luck that we don’t have more accidents and deaths. The phones/texting make the streets prime grounds for theft/assault—fortunately most criminals have not learned this yet.
Watch while you are driving
I am sorry but I find these comments appalling. This had nothing to do with jaywalkers or bikes or even students. An elderly person was gravely hurt while walking in the crosswalk, where pedestrians have the right of way. Drivers are responsible for looking out for others; if you can’t see where you are going, you shouldn’t be on the road. And regarding well lit streets – have you heard of headlights? Turns out all cars have them!
When you are turning right
When you are turning right and you have a green light, your headlights aren’t facing toward the crosswalk to the right. No kidding the drivers are responsible, but it’s also the city’s responsibility to ensure the utmost safety of its residents. The dimly lit sidewalks and streets are a serious issue. There’s a reason there are so many pedestrian accidents in Evanston. When you are making a turn at an intersection, the majority of crosswalks are so dimly lit that it is next to impossible to ensure no one is in the crosswalk.
62 is elderly?
Matt,
Some people in their 60s might consider it appalling that you call them elderly.
— Bill
Elderly
Bill,
Like you, I am over 60 and I don’t mind being called elderly. I think you comment was a little toungue and cheek.
The older I get, the more careful I get and that includes crossing the street. You are likelier more careless when you are young. I know I was when I was a highschooler.
Elderly
Point taken! And of course it is true that pedestrians can be hard to see, especially at night, in bad weather, and in dark clothing. But they are not invisible either, and collisions are easily avoided by proceeding with care and appropriately low speed at intersections. The primary responsibility for preventing pedestrians from getting hit in crosswalks rests plainly with the drivers, no matter what the circumstances.
Protest march?
That’s it! Calling all people over 60 for an after dark protest march for being called elderly!
I am a retired gentleman over 70 (gasp; one foot in the grave!) and always look over my shoulder before stepping into a crosswalk if there is traffic coming up behind me that might turn right.
Previous comment are right on: lighting in certain areas could be better, and drivers should be aware that pedestrians have the right of way and sometimes do silly things. All parties need to pay attention to what is going on around them.