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Updated: Pedestrian Dies in Car Crash on Bridge St., Names Released

The fatal accident occurred at approximately 5:30 p.m. Thursday. The names of the pedestrian and driver were released Thursday night. Bridge Street has reopened as of Thursday night.

Update:

The names of the pedestrian and the driver of the car involved in a fatal accident on Bridge Street Thursday have been released.

According to a press release from the Suffield Police Department, 65-year-old Patricia Handler was the woman struck by a 2002 Dodge Durango driven by Christine Swanson, a 49-year-old from East Hartford. Handler lived in the Maple Court senior housing located at 81 Bridge Street.

Original Story:

A car travelling on Bridge Street struck a pedestrian Thursday evening. The collision caused fatal injuries to the pedestrian, a woman whose name has not yet been released.

The woman was transported to Baystate Medical Center in Springfield and was pronounced dead at that hospital according to Sgt. Ryan Burrell, a Suffield police officer and member of the North Central Municipal Accident Reconstruction Squad (NCMARS).

Burrell and other officers in NCMARS were working at the scene to determine the circumstances of the accident, which occurred near the former Bridge Street School building and the Suffield Senior Center. He said few details of the crash were available, including who caused the accident and whether the victim was using a crosswalk.

Burrell confirmed that the car involved, a SUV, was travelling in the eastbound lane (away from Mountain Road and the center of Suffield) of Bridge Street. He said the accident was reported at 5:37 p.m.

The area of Bridge Street where the accident occurred was closed as police investigated the scene of the accident.

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Just a short thought to get the word out quickly about anything in your neighborhood.
Share something with your neighbors. Write a new post... What's up? Make an announcement, speak your mind, or sell something
Maria Giannuzzi May 15, 2013 at 07:40 am
The problem is resurfacing all the roads in Suffield would cost a great deal of money. Suffield is aRead More big town. I do understand that some roads in Suffield do not have enough adjacent suitable land to create a separate bike lane, but I believe bike lanes could be constructed along sections of some scenic roads. Half a loaf is better than none at all. Salvatore, if you have not already been there, you may want to consider cycling on the island of Nantucket. I have not been there in years, but outside of its main town, Nantucket did offer good riding conditions and peaceful surroundings--at least when I visited.
salvatore iervolino May 14, 2013 at 09:13 pm
Thank you for your comment. Actually, I was simply suggesting that roads are resurfaced. There isn'tRead More probably enough room for bike lanes on most of these backroads, but if at least the pavement was brought to an acceptable condition, that would make biking much more pleasant (I should say "possible") and, let's not forget, much safer. Some particularly damaged areas represent a serious danger to bikers' safety.
Maria Giannuzzi May 14, 2013 at 08:10 am
There may be a solution--a compromise of sorts. Put a narrow, but well-maintained bike lane on largeRead More sections of each scenic road in town, the roads with fewer cars and trucks. Just having the bike lanes may be draw for out-of-town cyclists to visit Suffield and spend money at local businesses. Instead of attempting to change Suffield into a metropolitan area, with all the problems that brings, celebrate (and financially support) its original identity--a scenic, peaceful agricultural town with some nice amenities.
Nicole Turgeon May 17, 2013 at 12:05 pm
Are you interested in selling anything sooner? I am in the market for a lawn tractor and I'd beRead More interested to hear what you've got and how much you're asking! :)