On Tuesday, November 24, a man crossing Dixie Highway at Bonnyville Road was struck by a motorist, sustaining critical injuries. The collision took place just after 6:00p.m. along the seven-lane speedway.
According to police, the unidentified man in his 20s was crossing Dixie from east to west when he was hit by a woman driving north in a white Crown Victoria car.
There are no crosswalks at this intersection. The closest marked crosswalks are located 835 feet south at Meyers Lane or 635 feet north at Upper Hunters Trace.
The speed limit here is 40 mph. A pedestrian hit by a motorist travelling at that speed has only a 10 to 20 percent chance of surviving. In contrast, a collision at 30 mph carries a 50 to 60 percent survival rate.
The man was taken to University Hospital where he was listed in critical condition at the time. Police said at the time that they would investigate, but that no charges were expected.
The incident was covered by WHAS11, WDRB, WLKY, and WAVE3. One report described the collision as an accident (WHAS) and others ignored that the vehicle was being driven by a person (WHAS, WLKY, WDRB). WDRB has the distinction as the only source treating the collision as an impediment to traffic, beginning their report, “All northbound lanes of Dixie Highway are back open…”
Louisville is still in the midst of a three-year pedestrian safety campaign called Look Alive Louisville due to the city’s above-average pedestrian fatality and injury rate. Dixie Highway is slated for some improvements hoped to improve safety beginning in the new year.
