Woman seriously injured after garbage truck hits her while crossing Somerville street

SOMERVILLE, Mass. — Investigators say a woman was seriously injured after she was hit by a garbage truck as she tried to cross a busy street in Somerville Thursday afternoon, officials said

Police say the 34-year-old woman was trying to get cross Somerville Avenue around 1:30 p.m. and was in a crosswalk, when she was hit by the driver of garbage truck, who was attempting to make a right turn from Medford Street, according to a preliminary investigation, State Police said Friday.

The driver of the truck, owned by Russell Disposal of Somerville, is a 50-year-old Hyde Park man who stayed at the scene and was not injured, according to police. The company is located just a few hundred yards from where the woman was hit.

John Elefterakis whose auto business has been located just next to where the crash happened for 46 years, said he's seen the intersection get busier and more dangerous.

"Nobody knows where to walk," he said. "Even though the lines are there, now you can walk so many different directions."

Eleftherakis' surveillance cameras captured State Police responding after the woman was hit.

"He basically made a turn over here and she was trying to get across, and boom the noise," said Richard Burpee, who witnessed the crash, said he saw the woman almost underneath the truck after she was hit.

Related: Woman dies after being hit by driver in Fort Point

The area where Somerville Avenue meets McGrath Highway is confusing, with several intersections and various on and off-ramps. Boston 25 News counted eight different crosswalks in the intersection.

"They did change it, but the lights are a little bit more confusing I think," said Ali Hatzis.

"I live around here and I run frequently, but, again, sticking to those walk signs. It's what I live by just to avoid the high traffic," said Eric Pociask of Somerville.

Eleftherakis would like to see more signs to help pedestrians and help drivers stay alert.

"I think anything would be better than what's here now," he said, adding that well-marked crosswalks would help people know where to walk and cut down on the confusion.

Police say the woman was conscious after she was hit and suffered trauma to her head and leg. Her current condition is unknown but police said she was is expected to survive.

The incident remains under investigation.

Cox Media Group