FARMINGTON – University of Maine at Farmington officials have posted warnings on a crosswalk on Main Street after a student was struck by a vehicle there Jan. 28.
Casey Lindwell, 18, was crossing Main Street in front of Scott Hall at 8:30 p.m. when Farmington police officer Andrew Hufnagel, heading south, nearly hit her, according to Sgt. Shane Cote of the Police Department.
Investigating police officer Bridgette Dellarma’s report said that after Hufnagel nearly struck her, a truck, heading in the opposite direction almost did as well.
After that, Lindwell was struck by a sport utility vehicle driven by Bridgid Bibbens of Boston, knocking her off her feet, the report said. Bibbens, who was heading north, was immediately behind the truck and did not see Lindwell in time to stop. No summonses were issued to Bibbens or Lindwell.
Lindwell was examined by ambulance personnel and refused to go to the hospital.
According to Tom Donaghue, director of communications for the university, the student was apparently not seriously injured.
“She was bumped,” he said. She went to Latte Landing, a campus hangout, after the incident, he added.
Donaghue said there has been a debate on campus as to whether to remove that particular crosswalk, the first one motorists encounter as they enter downtown Farmington from the south. The question in university officials’ minds is whether students will cross there anyway even if they remove the crosswalk.
Campus security officers set up barriers on both sides of the walkway with notices warning students to be cautious. They were not placed there to block students from using it but to make them think, Donaghue said.
The crosswalk is at the top of a hill, and drivers traveling north approach it immediately after a sharp curve and often don’t see it until the last minute, particularly at night when their headlights are pointed upward as they crest the hill, Cote said.
“It’s a terrible, terrible, terrible crosswalk,” he said.
Several years ago, the crosswalk was discontinued, but it was brought back this year. The only university building on the west side of Main Street is Scott Hall, a residence housing up to 400 students.
Donaghue said students need to be more attentive. The university has been running a campaign to raise awareness, including fliers and posters throughout campus. The campaign encourages students to stop, wave and smile in an effort to get them to make eye contact with motorists.
The university is also taking other precautions. Roger Spear, vice president of the university, wrote a letter to Central Maine Power Co. on Feb. 8 to ask it to increase the wattage of the lighting at the crosswalk from 150 to 250 watts, according to Donaghue.
It’s not always the student’s fault, he said. He related an incident in which he was crossing Main Street at a different walkway when his briefcase was struck by a vehicle. He jumped out of the way avoiding injury, but he said he was “stunned.”
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