Photo: A card marks some point of interest in the police's investigation of Wednesday's collision. Credit: J. Deseo/SSP.
UPDATE (5) — Montgomery County police have identified the driver and the pedestrian involved in Wednesday evening’s fatal collision on 16th Street.
The pedestrian — William Alexander Guy, a 63-year-old Silver Springer who lived on the 8300 block of 16th Street — was walking westbound across 16th Street near Colesville Road just before 6:00 p.m., according to MCPD Sgt Meredith Dominick and an MCPD press statement released Thursday. Dominick could not say whether Guy was jaywalking, as the police’s collision-reconstruction crew was still studying the scene at press time.
Guy made it across all three lanes of southbound traffic, over a grassy median, then through two lanes of northbound traffic, Dominick described. While passing through the roadway’s right lane — the one closest to the grassy sidewalk outside the Falkland Chase apartments — Guy was struck by a northbound car, she said.
Dominick added that the driver did stop, and that his behavior did not prompt police officers to conduct a field sobriety test. On Thursday, MCPD identified him as 47-year-old Andrew Pace, of the 13500 block of Travilah Road in Gaithersburg. Charges against Pace have not been filed, though the investigation is ongoing, Dominick indicated. It’s not known whether he was in police custody.
Meanwhile, pedestrian Guy was transported to Washington Hospital Center in The District, where he died from his injuries, the press statement read.
Photo: Yellow tape outside the Falklands marked a police perimeter (top); MCPD investigators were on the scene Wednesday night (bottom). Credit: J. Deseo/SSP.
The collision and police investigation closed southbound traffic on Colesville Road between East-West Highway and 16th Street, as well as on 16th Street between Colesville and East-West, at the height of rush hour. Later in the evening, all seemed tranquil along Colesville.
But on 16th Street, police investigators were busy peeking northward through tripod-mounted surveying equipment, and twice shot into the ground what sounded like a cap gun. Dominick explained that it was part of the investigation.
Outside the Falklands, yellow crime-scene tape marked a perimeter. An iridescent yellow card marked “C” sat on the asphalt in the right lane of northbound 16th Street, along the curb. Another card marked “D” sat less than ten feet north of the first, next to what may have been a black leather jacket.
Up the block, closer to East-West Highway, yellow hazard lights blinked from the rear of a small car in the right lane of northbound 16th Street. It’s not known whether that was the car involved in the collision.
In its press statement, the MCPD identified driver Pace’s car as a black 2002 Mercedes Benz C320.
At 9:45 p.m., investigators were still studying the scene, with expectations of reopening the streets to traffic in another hour, Dominick said.
Updated (1) Nov 18, 2009, to describe the scene of the collision. — JD
Updated (2) Nov 18, 2009, to include photographs. Also, on closer inspection of one photo, the “black shopping bag” described previously next to card “D” may actually be a black leather jacket. — JD
Updated (3) Nov 18, 2009, to correct the placement of cards “D” and “C”. They were in the right lane of northbound 16th Street, not the left as previously stated. — JD
Updated (4) Nov 19, 2009, to include information from an MCPD press statement. — JD
Updated (5) Nov 19, 2009, to include the names of the pedestrian and driver involved in the collision. — JD
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That’s so sad. And scary. I very nearly hit a father and son jaywalking westward in that exact spot on Monday night. I was driving at the speed limit, had just come through that crazy pseudo-rotary intersection northbound with several other cars on a green light, and there they were, wandering across in the dark, holding hands, in dark clothes. It was frightening, and I was angry at the man for bringing the boy along on such a dangerous walk. I’m all for making the streets more pedestrian friendly — don’t get me wrong — and that’s a dangerous stretch of road. Very busy, very dark, and I don’t believe there are any crosswalks for a long distance. My heart goes out to the no-doubt-distraught driver, and to the pedestrian and his family.
That is very sad to hear.
Another big problem is that circle. I have almost been in several accidents there. I have tried and tried to get both DC and Montgomery County to address the traffic problem. There needs to be a traffic light (or at least a blinking yellow) for cars that come from Collesville Road and make the left onto 16th Street. They shoot across the northbound lane of 16th and then turn left onto the southbound lane with out even slowing down. It is very dangerous.
This area is very dangerous. There are NO crosswalks marked at the interesection of 16th and Colesville Road…likewise, no crosswalk marked at the interesction of Draper Lane and Colesville Road (one half block north of 16th ST/Colesville Rd interesction), and there is clearly a walkway in the median strip on Colesville. Pedestrian safety does not seem to be a concern here in Silver Spring. This death last night on 16th Street was one of my neighbors and is very very sad! Please help us get some crosswalks clearly marked in this area, as the drivers are often not paying attention to pedestians in this area!
I definitely agree that the intersection is confusing to both drivers and pedestrians. Whether it was a factor in last night’s accident won’t be known until the investigation is complete, however there’s little doubt that it has contributed to many a fender-bender in the past. In particular it makes no sense to me that most of the roads are controlled by traffic lights while one of the busiest ones, Colesville, is controlled only by a stop sign. I also believe the lane markings on 16th street heading south are incorrect – it suggests that drivers in the middle lane can move over to the outside line, while in fact the outside lane traffic has the choice of either turning left or continuing south on 16th street.
As somebody who grew up in the UK I’m a big advocate of traffic circles when they’re done right, i.e. left alone and NOT controlled by traffic lights. Examples of bad traffic circles are Washington circle and Thomas circle in the District, while an example of a good traffic circle is Chevy Chase Circle on the DC/MD border. If you just create a proper circle and don’t screw with it they work fine. I would therefore suggest that the authorities consider making this intersection look more like Chevy Chase circle.
This is a terrible intersection. There is no way that pedestrians should ever attempt to cross over 16th street in that spot. It may be inconvenient, but it really is necessary to either go one block north to cross near east-west highway, or one block south to cross a little south of the circle. And yes, there is DEFINITELY a light needed at the southbound side of Colesville, though I think that is not related to this particular accident.
I’m really worried about people coming out of Summit Hill’s 16th St entrance and crossing 16th Street mid block there between the lights at Spring and East-West Highway. Cars coming south down 16th St are coming over the top of a hill and have a short line of sight. I’ve almost hit several people when I’m making my right out of that Summit Hills entrance on to 16th and people walking dash out in front of me.
I’m so sorry to hear about the poor man killed.
It’s incredibly sad to read this, particularly as a frequent pedestrian around Silver Spring. I would really love to see a concerted effort to address pedestrian safety, both for drivers and for pedestrians. I’m not familiar with this particular section of Silver Spring, I am familiar with the intersection of Colesville and East-West, and Wayne and Georgia. Both have slightly different traffic patterns, and both scare the bejeezis out of me.
In the case of Wayne/Georgia, which I cross more frequently pedestrians will begin to cross Georgia even though drivers on Wayne turning left get a dedicated arrow, and the walk sign remains red for pedestrians. That, in turn, prompts drivers to jump the light when their dedicated arrow goes away, in order to make up the time they lost waiting for pedestrians to cross. It’s an awful cycle. (Disclosure: Hi Penguin! I’m the one that suggested on Twitter that you film this intersection.) There’s a similar pattern at Colesville/East-West, only drivers hurtle through at a much higher speed, making the chance of getting plowed even greater.
This isn’t to suggest that this happened to the man who was killed last night — I’ll wait for the investigation to finish up and see what their determinations are. But I will say, please, pedestrians, wait your turn. And drivers, please stop being so impatient. It’s a scary enough world as it is.
Very sorry to read that, but I see near-misses and reckless jaywalking nearly every day. In fact, just yesterday during evening rush hour I watched an idiot run diagonally from the corner of Ellsworth across Fenton Street, avoiding being hit by a metro bus (which I don’t think he ever saw) by only a few seconds. A bunch of us standing on the corner gasped and laughed at the insanity of it all.
And the above does not even include one of my favorite pet peeves: punks strolling across a busy street and giving challenging stares to the drivers who are forced to stop for them. Ah, for but a wee change in the law…
Jessica, Steve, Robin and the others who are writing in with specific suggestions, please consider attending the next meeting of the Transportation and Pedestrian Safety Advisory Committee. This body can be very useful. The more peds involved, the better. Any such bodies can attract people who work in the transportation or real estate development fields, and if they dominate, it just becomes another vehicle for density, density, density. This committee is one place where ordinary citizens who want to improve matters for themselves and their neighbors can get things done. Jennifer is very good about posting their meetings on the Monday of that week. If I get an advance notice, I will post it to this story.
That “circle” is one in name only. Not a good layout. Probably better if they just turned it into a 5-way intersection with traffic lights (and crosswalks). Safer for cars and pedestrians.
I know the man who was struck and later passed away. He was my neighbor and friend for nearly 9 years. I saw him before he was walking down the steps to cross 16th Street for his evening walk. He was not jaywalking. It was very dark last night, and he was wearing a black leather jacket… and the street lights weren’t lit – or were very dim. We need more lights and pedestrian crossing zones, and my friend paid the price while doing something he did everyday. He doesn’t have family close, so I don’t know how long it will take to notify them. I am very very sad.
Very sad indeed. That intersection is horrible, I live just down the block, and there are frequent accidents. It’s a difficult area for pedestrians in many ways. I’m generally walking, and biased, but my experience is that the morning and evening commuting traffic can be very aggressive, and either oblivious, or nearly hostile to pedestrian traffic, even within the crosswalks. I’ve always thought that Montgomery Cty could fund a new library if they just parked and wrote tickets at a few key intersections.
My sympathies go out to all the affected in this accident.
If he had to cross a grassy median, he was jaywalking. The only place you wouldn’t be jaywalking around there would be if you crossed only half a block up the street (!) at 16th Street and E-W Hwy. This is a tragedy, but one that could’ve easily been avoided by simply crossing at a crosswalk.
I also saw the scene coming up 16th Street from DC. Had to turn right onto Colesville, but the location of the incident makes it pretty clear that the man was jaywalking. The crosswalk at East West is so close! Why endanger yourself by doing that, in the dark, with dark clothes on?
That whole area is a mess for pedestrians, and with that sloppy circle, quite a mess for drivers as well…
Now correct me if I’m wrong here, but was the ‘grassy median’ one of the ones there with a cutout, and ramps opposing it on either side? I know there’s no real ‘crosswalk’ there, but they sure as hell appear to be designed for pedestrians to cross at. If I’m thinking the right sort of spot, then I’m sure it technically is jaywalking. But it’s designed in such a way that many would never realize it…
Whatever the case may be, it’s a real shame.
I agree with everyone here, this is very sad. I also live in the area and have urged my family to avoid walking or crossing any of the local streets during the morning and evening rush hours in this area. The entire area is very dangerous for pedestrians during these hours.
It’s a mad dash to exit the city and most drivers will stop at nothing to make it to there final destinations on time.
So sad that this local man never made it to his.
Bill was my next door neighbor, a very nice man who I have known for the last 2 years. I am incredibly sad and angry. I cross at that exact spot every day and my apartment overlooks this intersection/ traffic circle. Yes, there is not a crosswalk painted on the road here, though there are cement walkways in the median connecting stairs on the west side of the road with the sidewalk on the east side of 16th. The county also recently paved new handicapped ramps and sidewalks at all four corners of this intersection.
Pedestrians frequently cross to walk to the metro, apartment office, and bus stops on Colesville, 16th and North Portal. I don’t know what happened in this instance, but Bill has lived in these apartments for many years and would never have rushed out in front of a car or acted like a “moron.” Would it be wiser to cross at East-West? Probably, though I have almost been run over myself crossing in the crosswalk with the walk sign, after looking, at that intersection and the one at Colesville and East-West.
I can tell you that every other day as I sit in my apartment in hear a screech and crash as cars collide in this traffic circle. I have seen cars T-boned, cars that collide because they can’t tell what lane they are supposed to be in, cars that try to pass buses on the inside lane as they are turning and every other kind of accident imaginable.
There are 2 problems that need to be addressed: aggressive driving and speeding here and the incredibly poor signage, lighting and layout of this intersection. I for one will be at the Transportation and Pedestrian Safety Advisory Committee meeting. And I’ll be crossing at East-West, hoping an aggressive driver doesn’t plow into me.
PLEASE NOTE:
Silver Spring’s pedestrian safety and transportation committee meeting, originally scheduled for next Monday, Nov 23, has been rescheduled.
The meeting’s new date is Tuesday, Dec 1, 2009. I don’t have a confirmed time and location yet, but that gig usually goes down at 7:30 p.m. at the Silver Spring regional center.
It might be a good meeting for pedestrians and motorists to attend.
I didn’t personally know the man killed last night but I live in the same apartment community. The “circle” at the intersections of Portal, Colesville, 16th, and North Portal is dangerous, poorly lit, and completely unsafe for pedestrians. Sidewalks on all sides of the circle imply welcomed use by pedestrians but only three crosswalks exist in the area.
The crossing area used by Mr. Guy is frequented by staff and tenants of Falkland Chase as well as other residents of the DC/Silver Spring border. The median crossed by Mr. Guy clearly includes a sidewalk across it in several places, extending a promise “safe” passage.
The danger at this intersection is not limited to those crossing the streets – auto accidents occur there several times a month, usually as a result of drivers flying across the lanes of northbound 16th from southbound Colesville with no traffic light to guide them. The entire intersection needs to be overhauled. Tragedies like Mr. Guy’s death are completely unnecessary.
Bill was a friend of mine, and his brother, Bob, is a member of the church my wife and I serve in Adrian, MI. Bill was a Presbyterian Minister who served a church in Pemberville, OH during the 80s when we became acquainted. He had since left the professional ministry. If you knew Bill, please send stories of how you knew him or interesting aspects of his life to me. Rev. Jim Splitt, First Presbyterian Church, Adrian, MI: jsfirstpres@tc3net.com. Thanks to all who have expressed a concern about the dangers of this intersection. I pray that Bill will be the last person to be a casualty at this place.
Editor’s note: This comment’s content has not been verified. — JD (Nov 19, 2009)
There is no doubt that the design of the stretch of 16-th Street between Rt. 410 and Colesville Rd. includes three points of pedestrian crossing. Please, everyone, look at the satellite view and close up pictures of that section here:
http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&q=silver+spring%2C+md&sourceid=navclient-ff&rlz=1B3GGGL_enUS336US336&ie=UTF-8
There are stairs leading directly (!?) to the street and the crossing continues to the other side of the road at two places. There is also a bicycle/handicap ramp directly at the circle, on the intersection with Colesville Rd. At all three “crossings” the “zebra” should have been painted to warn the drivers and allow more safety to the pedestrians.
The white paint of the “zebra” not only warns of the possible pedestrians on the road, but also allows for a visual contrast, so the person there is better visible than s/he would be against a blacktop. There are reasons why these things were developed.
There are no reasons why these things are not implemented in this case. Washington DC Metro area is the worst place for pedestrians that I’ve ever seen. I walked the streets in Europe in a few countries, I walked the streets of NYC, Toronto and a few other places. It seems as if all – the designs, the implementation and the habits of our motorists – are conspiring to push the pedestrians in this area off the roads and into hiding. Or the price is death.
This death did not have to happen. Correct road markings and lights where they should have been place would be a 90% of safety assurance. The remaining 10% would fall to the vigilance of both the driver and the pedestrian. Neither of them was given that 90% chance and now one died, while the other will live with that death on his conscience, guilty or not.
I am so sorry, for both of them and for their families.
So, just wanted to verify something, because I knew that MD’s definition of crosswalk was a little out of the ordinary. I wanted to know for sure whether this spot was a legal crosswalk or not. (If it wasn’t, I still wouldn’t think to fault the pedestrian when I know that it appears to be designated for crossing. I simply wanted to know the exact legality…)
MD 21-101:i defines a crosswalk as
(1) Within the prolongation or connection of the lateral lines of sidewalks [21.101:w defines sidewalk, but for the purpose of this discussion, the sidewalk seems a sure thing…] at any place where 2 or more roadways of any type meet or join, measured from the curbs or, in the absence of curbs, from the edges of the roadway; or
(2) Distinctly indicated for pedestrian crossing by lines or other markings.
Point 1 being the important one here (we should all know point 2 by now – if it looks like a crosswalk, it is a crosswalk). Point 1 seems to say that if a crosswalk is implied by sidewalks, it’s also a crosswalk… This is the situation I’ve seen around FC. What worries me is the “any place where 2 or more roadways of any type meet or join.” If this accident was at an intersection, then surely it was a legal crosswalk. But I also know that there are some points around FC where the sidewalk creates an implicit crosswalk right across the median, but not at an intersection. Am I to understand that even though these are clearly designed to be walked through, they are not legally crosswalks? If that’s the case, frankly they probably shouldn’t be there… Or the better solution would be to make them crosswalks by painting the stripes about them, put up some signs so that drivers know to slow down…
…Which is really the important part… I don’t think a lot of drivers know all the details of pedestrian right-of-way. Even if they do know, spots like this don’t make it known that there could very well be pedestrians there. Poor lighting doesn’t help. For such high stakes, there’s a lot of not knowing…
In addition to expressing my sympathy for the gentleman who was killed, I’d also like to say that my heart goes out to the driver. Given where this happened, the mess that is that intersection, there’s every chance in the world that he did nothing wrong.
Great point Terry, the driver must feel horrible. Something like this stays with you for life.
BRH – in MD law, it does not have to be MARKED to be a legal crosswalk — this is generally a rural thing, where two country roads may meetm though most all urban crossings are marked – for some idiotic reason this one is not, but the law applies throughout the county.
Kathy, please reread what I said… The bit of the code that concerns me is that for a crosswalk to exist without explicitly being marked, the sidewalks must oppose each other at “any place where 2 or more roadways of any type meet or join.” There are spots around Falkland chase where there is a crosswalk implied by the opposing sidewalks, but not at an intersection (where 2 or more roadways […] meet or join). The code therefore seems to say that those which are not at intersections (and are not at a point where the sidewalk ends) are not legal crosswalks. I’m not trying to start any fights, but I do have concerns about that area. Part of figuring out such concerns is reading through the MD codes, to see what should be pushed for concerning pedestrian safety here.
BRH – understood that you are talking about sidewalks leading to road edges apart from intersections. MoCo has a total of one staffer in its pedestrian safety office, I think this question should be posed to them to give a definitive answer.
Kathy – “MoCo has a total of one staffer in its pedestrian safety office…”
I know I shouldn’t be surprised, but that is really rather depressing.
I live on the corner of Eastern and Colesville. I have been here since August 2008 and am appalled that this traffice “circle” has not yet been modified. I’ve seen a number of collisions, some fender benders, some people being transported by ambulance, people crashing into the now-cut-down tree that was in the circle, two children trapped in an overturned van…
At one point, if anyone else remembers the details please add…there were group of what looked like graduate students who sat on the small rise by the fountain all day and monitored traffic/traffic light activity. They said it had to do with improving the timing of the lights to prevent collisions etc. and it was for some sort of urban planning group (?). but it seems nothing ever came of it and i can’t figure out how to track down that project or what happened to it.
I called the transportation and pedestrian safety commitee a few days ago, after seeing/hearing 3 collisions on saturday night and if anyone noticed the “welcome to DC” sign/structure on 16th was plowed into and demolished. I asked about jurisdiction since the MD/DC border is at the circle. I asked for information on whether this is on the committees radar, asked if there was data on the frequency and number of accidents/injuries/deaths from collisions at the circle, i asked if there is a plan in place to improve traffic patterns there etc. Someone from their office is supposed to get back to me. well…i won’t hold my breath.
I do think part of this has to do with narcissistic mindset in todays society. Watching the rush hour traffice from my apt is a show in how disrespectful, selfish and dangerous drivers can be in their attempt to speed home (or wherever) and do what they please on the road. Passive aggressive driving (like trying to edge people out or not let someone merge) is commonplace. I don’t think the traffic circle alone is to blame…i think drivers in the DC metro area need to realize that they don’t have some special entitlement to speed, ignore traffic laws, put others in danger because they feel their needs, like getting home quickly, are the priority.
Pedestrians, like myself (i can’t drive due to lyme disease), are in danger from these drivers. I know there are several blind people in the area and several Deaf people…these folks are at even more risk…
the traffic circle is a mess but also, drivers need to learn that their reckless driving is dangerous and selfish.
I feel horrible for the man who hit the pedestrian…i’m sure there is a great deal of grief on both sides….
i dont know what it will take to bring attention to the problems of the traffic circle…for the number of times police, firetrucks, ambulances are dispatched to the area, you’d think it would raise a red flag for the law enforcement/local gov’t. to me, its a no brainer that when police and ambulances are dispatched there numerous times during the week that someone might come to the conclusion that something needs to be done about it. I’d like to see a a research/investigatory article in a local paper or on the local news to bring attention to this.
I knew Bill as he was the pastor of my church when I was in high school. He was a very nice, generous, and good pastor. I am also a frequent visitor to this area and know the dangers of Colesville Rd. and East-West Highway.
Being from a small town, the amount of traffic and speed at which it moves amazes me. I hope the tragic death of Bill will inspire local officials to take the necessary measures to try to improve crossings in the area.
Silver Spring Transportation and Pedestrian Safety Committee meeting on Tuesday 12/1/09 at 7:30 p.m. in the Silver Spring Regional Center (8435 Georgia Ave, at the corner of Georgia and Wayne).
1) Silver Spring’s new civic projects — the transit center, the library, and the civic building/plaza — will all bring new pedestrian and traffic patterns.
) Pedestrian safety news, improvements and ideas for the Silver Spring/Takoma Park region:
– Survey of recent pedestrian safety incidents, issues and suggestions
(accidents, difficult corners, broken signals, crosswalks, sidewalks, etc.)
including the recent pedestrian death at Colesville and 16th St.