Multiple U.S. Pedestrian Crashes Kill Several People

A string of pedestrian-vehicle collisions across the U.S. this week left several people dead and others critically injured, with reported incidents in Zeeland, Mich.; Severn, Md.; Phoenix, Ariz.; Charlotte, N.C.; East Buffalo and Falls townships, Pa.; and DeKalb County, Ga. In Zeeland, 81-year-old Mary Boschma was struck around 8 a.m. by a pickup's driver's-side mirror during a dark, rainy morning and later died after being transferred to a Grand Rapids hospital. In Severn, 75-year-old Darlene Platt was struck and pronounced dead after a Ford Bronco driver said they did not see her; detectives are investigating. Phoenix police identified 49-year-old Chad Bratcher as a man struck mid-block by a pickup on McDowell Road who later died; investigators say the driver remained on scene and impairment does not appear to be a factor. Other cases include a 61-year-old woman critically injured while crossing Fairground Road in East Buffalo Township (witnesses said crossing lights were on), a critically injured pedestrian on Lawrenceville Highway in DeKalb County, a death on Harris Houston Road in northeast Charlotte, and a Falls Township crash that left a 39-year-old with minor injuries; authorities continue probes into fault and other contributing factors.