Pedestrian Death Is 2nd In Montgomery in 2 Days

By Phuong Ly
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday , September 29, 2000

A 45-year-old woman was struck by a car and killed early yesterday as she tried to cross Georgia Avenue in Wheaton--the second pedestrian fatality in Montgomery County in two days and the eighth in the county this year, the same as the number of homicides.

The woman, whose name was being withheld until relatives could be notified, was trying to cross Georgia Avenue south of Hewitt Avenue when she was struck by a 1999 Honda Accord about 5:30 a.m., county police said.

On Wednesday, an 81-year-old woman was killed when she was hit by a 1993 Geo Storm about 1 p.m. while crossing in the 6000 block of Montrose Road in Rockville, police said.

In both accidents, the pedestrians did not use crosswalks that were nearby, said Sgt. Mike Buchan, head of the police collision reconstruction unit. Most serious or fatal pedestrian accidents could be prevented if walkers were more cautious and used crosswalks, he said.

Yesterday morning, as police investigated the Georgia Avenue accident, pedestrians continued to use the same route as the victim to cross the busy street. Buchan said he saw only one person using the crosswalk. "I gave her a dollar for bus fare," he said. "Out of about 30 people, she was the only one using the crosswalk."

In 1998, nine people were killed in pedestrian accidents, Montgomery police said. In 1999, 19 people died.

In yesterday's accident, the pedestrian, who was going to a bus stop on Georgia Avenue, was wearing dark clothing, which may have prevented drivers from seeing her, Buchan said. She was pronounced dead at Holy Cross Hospital. The driver of the Honda, Mark Cumings, 34, of Brookeville, was not injured, police said.On Wednesday, Lily Filner, of the 200 block of Congressional Lane in Rockville, was struck after she got off a bus on Montrose Road, walked a short distance and then tried to cross the road, police said. She was pronounced dead at Suburban Hospital.

The driver of the Geo Storm, John Douglas Holder Jr., 34, of the 18700 block of Martins Landing Drive in Germantown, was not injured. Both accidents are under investigation.

© 2000 The Washington Post Company