While I do feel this was an isolated incident related to walking around town, there are still many issues related to walking/biking around our town. I walk regularly, but do not allow my children to. The only safe walking is on a sidewalk, a solid good sized sidewalk. I feel many/most of the sidewalks in this town are not sufficient nor safe. They are slightly raised "tar-bumps", many barely wide enough for a pedestrian to walk along. They are so narrow, I feel they give the walker a feeling of false security, thinking they are safe on them. I do not feel safe on them at all. I think it is actually safer to walk on side roads with no sidewalks, there is less traffic. Wide, raised, smooth, concrete sidewalks are the best. I know they are more expensive upfront, but actually cheaper in the end because they require less maintenance. Wilmington continues to put in narrow tar sidewalks that crumble and require routine maintenance. My safety tip to children walking in town? Don't.

Being struck and killed may be an isolated incident, but near misses are not. Even with a painted cross walk, a right of way and a patient wait for traffic to clear, it seems that way more often than not cars are not looking out for pedestrians. Particularly dangerous cross walks are the ones leading from the Fourth of July building to the High School (especially when school is not in session) and the cross walk where Shawsheen Ave meets Richmond St., but the list goes on. Just because you get the attention of one driver who stops for you, does not guarnatee you an adventure-free crossing from other drivers.

Eric and Terri make very valid points! People just don't seem to be paying attention anymore. I also believe the "mad rush" and severe impatience play a HUGE role. Often I think, "thank God nobody was walking" while I watch people speed to beat the yellow light or try and beat another driver in line at Dunkin's. I see more and more aggression on the roads, and it's not to your fellow driver anymore! Take Market Basket for example. People fly through the parking lot to get a space, run in real quick, or to avoid waiting for a slow walker to cross. I've seen endless amounts of people nearly hit in that parking lot, and I think it's OBNOXIOUS to honk at somebody walking to/from their car. I've also encountered drivers so angry they'll slam on their brakes just short of a pedestrian, scaring the life out of them, because the driver was angry and trying to make a point. What's the law for sudden heart attack for scaring the crap out of somebody? Kim's death absolutely sickens me. Isn't it awful that a person so eager to meet and greet all her fellow townie's, help find a pet or unload groceries, get in on a little yard work for a resident in need, get involved with all the local children, and SO MUCH MORE paid the price? She was the epitome and essence of "Love Thy Neighbor". Though she was always on the move like so many of us, she still took the time to enjoy life and help others. Maybe in the wake of such a tragic loss, people will follow her footsteps...

I believe these are symptoms of a larger problem for Wilmington. We need to investigate ways to slow down drivers across the town. Being situated where we are in the state, Wilmington's roads are often used as a bypass of the area highways. Along with the MBTA stations in town, we attract far too many drivers just pasing through the town's streets. Other municipalities utilize speed bumps, raised intersections and other strategies to slow down drivers. Our town needs to do the same. I believe the Police do a very good job of traffic enforcement, however, they cannot be everywhere. Within the past 18 months there have been multiple deaths and countless accidents that should be addressed by our Board of Selectmen.

I agree with the comments posted, but I wanted to add to Kevin's comment. I feel the 'larger problem' is not just for Wilmington, but all roads. The need to rush rush rush everywhere has gotten out of hand. I'm no angel, I've had my rush moments, but I've made a concerted effort a while ago to truly slow down and never get angry, no matter how critical and time crunched I am. My daughter started driving a little while ago and it really struck me how terrified I am for her, how when she is abiding by the speed limit, drivers tailgate her and beep continuously. This is everywhere, it's a big problem. We just need to slow down and treat other people nicely...just that simple thing..to treat one another nicely. I'm very sorry for the Forte family, that they have to deal with this tragedy.

I think there definitely need to be more sidewalks in the neighborhoods and crosswalks with lights for pedestrians to feel safe, old or young. And I agree with slowing down and not tailgating, basically respecting other people on the road. I feel extremely sorry for the Forte family, my thoughts are with them during this hard time.

My children are still elementary school and younger so I do not face the issue of having them walk places yet. I definately agree with the above comments, I have countless times been walking in the cross walk into Market Basket with my children and have had to stop short due to car not stopping, and for a second I think, isnt that the law? I run outside in town a lot, we do not have enough sidewalks, and there needs to be more cross walks. If a road is deemed to have a speed limit above 20 and a double yellow line, then it should have sidewalks. We have many secondary roads in town here that do not. When I learned to drive my parents told me its not me they worried about, but everyone else. Assume everyone is not paying attention. While a bit extreme, I still use that logic when outside running, I run facing into oncoming traffic, on main roads and with one ear bud in so I can hear approaching cars.
I do feel/hope that this was an isolated incident. Kim will be missed by many, she was such a great part of the community and the true essence of "being neighborly" and my condolences to the entire Forte family.

My brother was killed while crossing a street in 1979 at age 9. My oldest son is now 15 and he and his friends love to roam the town walking... I am obviously very sensitive to this issue. The problem is not only speed and driver distraction but the increasing amount of cars on the road. There is no easy answer... all we can do is be constantly vigilant ourselves, teach our kids, and try to act as a good example. And hope for the best.

Kevin although I agree that this should be addressed I wouldn't hold your breath waiting for the Town Government to address this issue . If you live near or around Burlington Avenue then I'm sure that you have dealt with the issue of either sitting in traffic or watching the speed way. The town feels that it is not and issue that there will be 108 apartments developed on the diamond crystal site. The fact that this intersection has been deemed a "failed intersection" by the state does not make a difference. If you live on Buttersrow or Chestnut or Harris,Burt Rd. Boutwell etc., then you better get ready for alot more trafic trying to get around this mess.These neighborhoods have few sidewalks and the amount of cars will make this a dangerous mix. The Town Government is really pushing for the apartments and has made it clear that the concerns of the residents don't matter. I was shocked that something like this could happen but I guess ignorance is bliss as they say. I just wish we had a council member that would have suggested a rec center or something like that for the kids on this site. It is an eyesore and something needs to be done there but 200 extra cars on that road a day seems like a no-brainer.A disaster waiting to happen....

Great discussion. An automobile is a deadly weapon, but not enough drivers realize this, and drive carelessly, recklessly, and selfishly. Combined with anything of influence (caffeine, other drugs, alcohol, stress), the risks increase tremendously. My kids aren't driving yet, but they are becoming aware of the hazards and comment when they see someone smoking a cigarette and talking on their phone or drinking a cup of coffee. I purposely drive the speed limit, and they complain that I'm going too slow. This is a great teaching tool. After they learned to ride bikes, I took them out on regular bike rides and instituted "rules of the road": where to stop, when to walk your bike, cross at the lights using the crosswalks and walk signals, etc. Now, since they are too "old" for me to ride or walk with them, I insist they use the sidewalk when walking and riding. With many issues involving their use of judgment, I tell them it isn't them I don't trust to make the right decision, it's those around them: drivers, other kids, etc. This is a constant discussion, but worth it.

This accident may not have been related to sidewalk safety since drivers under the influence and distracted drivers don't always stick to pavement but I wish the town and state would do more to encourage safe driving. I hate walking in Mass because people pay no attention to stop lines and crosswalks.

I also used to hate arriving late to WHS or having to leave early because it was usually a daunting task to get across 62 without a crossing guard despite clearly marked crosswalks and high visibility. Drivers don't care or pay attention because officers rarely issue citations for those violations. However, I don't consider these issues to be unique to Wilmington because I see the same behavior across the entire region.

Go to DC and you will notice vehicles stop for red lights before the stop line, yield to pedestrians in crosswalks, and don't block intersections. It seems that the combination of red light cameras, speed cameras, and lots of traffic enforcement officers can greatly improve driver behavior! Too bad our state does not allow camera citations and traffic enforcement is rather unpopular with motorists who are in too much of a rush to obey traffic regulations.

The problem with pedestrians is that 90% of drivers either do not know or worse do not care that the pedestrian has the right of way. In my job I have to constantly cross steeets, and in toens like Wilmington I often have to wait for 40-50 cars to pass by before even ONE stops or slows to let me cross.