KPD e-News Release: Pedestrian Struck by Vehicle in Downtown Kingsport Crosswalk

	Kingsport Police Department 200 Shelby Street • Kingsport, TN 37660 ThomasMPatton • 423-229-9433 (Desk) • 423-224-2786 (FAX) http://Police.KingsportTN.gov • www.KingsportPDBlog.com
NEWS RELEASE
SUBJECT:		Pedestrian Struck by Vehicle in Downtown Kingsport Crosswalk
DATE:		December 11, 2014

GENERAL NARRATIVE

On December 11, 2014 at approximately 2:00 PM, Officers from the Kingsport Police Department’s Traffic Unit responded the intersection of East Center Street at Cherokee Street in reference to a motor vehicle collision involving a pedestrian. Their investigation revealed the following:

A 2011 Honda Odyssey minivan, driven by Cara L. McConnell, was making a left turn from southbound Cherokee Street to eastbound East Center Street on a green light. At the same time, a pedestrian identified as 85 year old Helen Christian was crossing East Center Street in the crosswalk with the “Walk” signal.

Ms. McConnell did not see Ms. Christian in the crosswalk. Her minivan struck Ms. Christian, knocking her to the ground. Ms. Christian sustained incapacitating injuries and was transported to Holston Valley Medical Center for treatment. Her injuries do not appear to be life-threatening at this time.

Ms. McConnell was cited for Failure to Yield Right-of-Way to a Pedestrian.

The Kingsport Police Department cautions area motorists to always be on the lookout for pedestrians. In many intersections such as this one, it is possible for a vehicle to have a green light and a pedestrian to have a “Walk” signal at the same time. But in such instances, even though the vehicle has a green light, the driver must still yield to the pedestrian in the crosswalk.

COLLISION VEHICLE INFORMATION
Make	Honda
Model	Odyssey
Year	2011
Type	Minivan
Color	White
Damage	Minor
Driver	Name	Cara L. McConnell
	Age	45 Years of Age
	Race/Gender	White/Female
	Residency	Kingsport, TN
	Injuries	No Injury
	Charge(s)	Failure to Yield Right-of-Way

PEDESTRIAN INFORMATION
Name	Helen Christian
Age	85 Years of Age
Race/Gender	White/Female
Residency	Kingsport, TN
Injuries	Incapacitating Injuries