Could a life have been saved? Sadly, we will never know

Scene of Friday's fatal crash in which a vehicle collided with a woman on a mobility scooter. (Courtesy photo/Google Earth)

ROCHESTER - On Tuesday the City Council will decide whether to approve a flashing crosswalk beacon near Kentucky Fried Chicken on Columbus Avenue, the very crosswalk where a woman in a mobility scooter was struck and killed on Friday.
City Councilor Dana Berlin, who has been leading the effort to make the crosswalk safer, said on Sunday it's possible that the fatal accident may not have occurred had more safety enhancements been in place.
Last April Berlin asked city staff to reach out to Eversource to get estimates on additional street poles and lighting to provide more nighttime illuminations, but Eversource was slow to respond.
"I'm angry," Berlin said. "After eight months trying to get an estimate from Eversource and not get a response?"
Berlin said he first made the request in April and if the public safety committee had gotten a timely response, the safety improvements could have been up in June.
Frustrated with Eversource's lack of a response, Berlin moved to purchase the Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon at last month's public safety committee meeting. A voice vote was unanimous.
Belin said photos of the accident scene appear to show that the victim was in the crosswalk when she was struck around 1:55 p.m. He said photos also indicate that the vehicle was taking a left on Columbus Avenue from Upham Street.
An initial police statement confirms that the vehicle that struck the woman was headed south on Route 125 when the accident occurred, but gave no other details.
The Strafford County Technical Accident Reconstruction Team was called to assist with the investigation, which shut down the roadway for about three hours.
Police have not yet released the name of the victim or the driver of the vehicle.
The cause of the accident remains under investigation at this time while officers continue to gather witness statements and await the completion of an accident reconstruction team.
The rapid flashing beacons that will be voted on on Tuesday are similar to those in place outside Lilac City Grille on North Main Street. The cost will be around $20,000, Berlin said.
Anyone who witnessed the accident is encouraged to contact the Rochester Police Department at (603) 330-7128.