NEWPORT — A Claremont man was killed Thursday afternoon in Newport when he was struck by a dump truck while walking on Sunapee Street.
Robert Ray, 55, was pronounced dead at the scene of the intersection of Sunapee Street and Bald Mountain Road, Newport Police said.
The collision happened around 3:30 p.m. when Carl Mears, 76, of Ascutney, made a left turn from Bald Mountain Road onto Sunapee Street and hit Ray, Newport Police said in a news release.
Mears was driving a truck owned by Yukon Trucking of Newport.
This was the second fatal pedestrian collision in Newport in the last two weeks.
On Dec. 28, Carl Barton, 80, was killed while crossing North Main Street at night after leaving a convenience store.
On Friday, Newport Police Lt. Charles Rataj said both incidents remain under investigation.
No charges have been filed in either case, and police are awaiting toxicology reports in the first crash, though they said that neither speed nor alcohol appear to be factors in Barton’s death.
Rataj said on Friday that police have no indication that the drivers in either crash weren’t paying attention.
Ray was walking toward oncoming traffic on the north side of Sunapee Street, which has no sidewalks on either side at that location.
Rataj also said given the time of day police are looking into whether sun glare contributed to the crash, but as of now he said that does not appear to be the case.
Rataj said these incidents show that it is important for pedestrians to follow three rules that police stress. Walk against traffic so motorists can better see you; wear bright or reflective clothing and use a flashlight, even in daytime; and always use a crosswalk, where possible, even if it means you have to walk a little farther.
“When you are outside the crosswalk, it adds to the possibility of getting hit,” Rataj said.
Anyone who may have witnessed Thursday’s collision is asked to contact Lt. Craig Robertson at the Newport Police Department at 603-863-3240.
Patrick O’Grady can be reached at pogclmt@gmail.com.
