Fatal Shows Dire Need to Make Main Street Safer

This morning’s , which resulted in the death of a female pedestrian, only points to the urgent need for greater safety along Main Street, says at least one elected official.

City councilor Ted Bettencourt, whose Main Street law office is just over a block away from the intersection with Washington Street, said he was arriving to work around 8:30 a.m. (after a morning of holding signs for his mayoral campaign) and noticed the police officers and flashing lights in the intersection. It wasn’t until he checked a local news report that he discovered what had happened.

Bettencourt said these types of tragic accidents are exactly what the city is trying to prevent by .

“One of the major reasons for the Main Street [project] is…to avoid terrible tragedies [and] make it more pedestrian friendly,” he said.

“To have something like this happen is heart-wrenching,” said Bettencourt.

The City Council will be reviewing the final design plans for the overhaul of Main Street this evening at 6 p.m. and likely take a vote on whether to approve that design and move the project forward.

Bettencourt said he expects this morning’s accident will be at the forefront of his fellow councilors’ thoughts as well as they discuss the project tonight. Mayor Michael Bonfanti was not immediately available for comment.

Peabody Patch readers who commented via Twitter shared their thoughts on news of the accident, one follower sharing similar sentiment on the dangerousness of the intersection.

“Oh no...so sad. I live right around the corner and that is a crazy intersection,” the woman wrote.