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Former Amazon employee: Crosswalk where woman was hit, killed by cement truck isn't safe

Posted at 5:25 PM, Jun 22, 2017
and last updated 2017-06-23 07:43:40-04

HEBRON, Ky. -- Flowers line a crosswalk near Litton Lane in Hebron, where an Amazon employee was hit and killed by a cement truck Tuesday as she was walking to a parking lot.

Former Amazon employee Dustin Stinson said the crosswalk isn’t safe, and the whole incident could have been avoided.

Paula J. Newsom, 52, had just gotten off work from the Amazon Fulfillment Center Tuesday when she was crossing Litton Lane to an overflow parking lot, according to Maj. Tom Scheben.

She walked out in front of a concrete mixer, which hit and killed her, Scheben said.

Stinson said the overhead lights near the factory don’t illuminate the crosswalk. Since then, Amazon has installed two portable lights near the parking lot.

"This is an improvement, but there's still a lack of lighting here,” Stinson said.

Poor lighting and construction traffic create a dangerous situation for employees who have to cross the street, Stinson said.

"I don't know if it's the city or Amazon that needs to fix it. But something needs to be done,” he said.

Amazon officials released the following statement: "It's a very sad day and our thoughts go out to her family and loved ones. We are working closely with the Boone County Sheriff’s Office on this …”

Scheben said the Boone County Sheriff’s Office is working with Amazon to address safety concerns within the next week.

Scott Pennington, county engineer for Boone County Public Works, said in an email that Litton Lane is a county road, and there are no “immediate plans to add lighting or speed bumps.”

He did mention a sidewalk may be installed along Litton.

Stinson is hopeful the changes come soon so his former co-workers can feel safer.

"This is an absolute tragedy that I think could've been prevented,” Stinson said.