Officials Seek Intersection Safety Review after MPD Detective Strikes Pedestrian

In response to a that sent a Georgetown woman to the hospital, local advisory neighborhood commission officials are calling on DDOT and other District officials to examine the safety of the cross walk on the 2100 block of Wisconsin Avenue.

According to the traffic crash report, a 30-year-old woman was using the crosswalk at 35th Street and Wisconsin Avenue at about 9:15 p.m. Oct. 5 when she and her dog were both hit by a car.

MPD Detective Samuel McGee, 43, was driving the blue 2008 Chevrolet Impala northbound on Wisconsin Avenue when he struck the victim and her dog as they used the crosswalk, moving from the east side of Wisconsin Avenue toward the west side.

The report describes the crash as a "straight on pedestrian" collision and the victim's injuries as "non-disabling." She was transported to George Washington University hospital by a medic unit.

Initial reports from the scene indicated that the vehicle was an unmarked police car and the crash report supports those statements, listing the "owner" address as 1350 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, which is the address for the Council of the District of Columbia.

According to Department of Motor Vehicles, the vehicle has three outstanding tickets for moving violations:

The day after this crash, Advisory Neighborhood Commission (ANC) Ed Solomon sent a note to District officials requesting a review of the safety conditions at the intersection.

He wrote:

This part of Wisconsin is a dangerous area to cross even with a properly stripped crosswalk. Traffic approaches this crosswalk at speed. Lighting and proper signage needs evaluation. I would like DDOT to evaluate this intersection and make recommendations on Safety improvement.

Solomon suggested making 35th Street a two-way street between Whitehave Parkway and Wisconsin Avenue and installing a traffic light at the intersection.

In the neighboring ANC, Commissioner Jackie Blumenthal told neighbors on the Glover Park listserv that ANC3B would be requesting a report on the incident from MPD at the upcoming Oct. 12 meeting.

Blumenthal received an email from MPD officials assuring her that the incident is being investigated.

According to Commander Reese, members from the Second District, where the incident took place, did not conduct the investigation, rather it was conducted by MPD's Major Crash Unit. He was unable to share much additional information, "the only information that can be shared is information that will not comprise the conduct of this ongoing investigation."

As the investigation into the crash continues, ANC representatives will push to have their safety concerns addressed.

"I would hope that this accident would result in a comprehensive review on the safety concerns that this community has about this section of Wisconsin Avenue," wrote Solomon.