CINCINNATI -- A driver struck and injured a pedestrian in a crosswalk at The Banks Sunday afternoon.
Mary Jane Lyon, 51, suffered life-threatening injuries when the driver hit her outside of Taste of Belgium at The Banks, at Rosa Parks Street and Freedom Way. The driver was operating a 2002 Toyota Rav4 north on Rosa Parks Street and attempted to turn west onto W. Freedom Way when he hit Lyon.
Tyrone Spurling, a witness, told WCPO he saw a woman in the crosswalk hit by a blue SUV turning left onto Freedom Way.
"The lady was walking across the street, she was already halfway across, and he hit her and she flew like seven feet in the air," Spurling said.
The driver told witnesses and police his window was fogged and he didn't see her.
Police said the driver was cooperating and was not under the influence, so charges aren't expected.
First responders transported the woman to University of Cincinnati Medical Center. Lyon is in critical condition.
Crashes with pedestrians have been an increasing problem in Cincinnati. WCPO's Pat LaFleur reports that Sunday's was roughly the 70th this year. That's more than one a day on average.
RELATED: More and more Cincinnati pedestrians involved in crashes each year, city data show.
In December, LaFleur reported that 13 students were struck by cars in the last four months of 2018.Two months ago, Mayor John Cranley proposed $900,000 in pedestrian safety upgrades.
The Traffic Unit is investigating, and any witnesses to the crash should call the Cincinnati Police Department’s Traffic Unit at 513-352-2514.
Here's an updated graphic on pedestrian-involved crashes through February (not including today's crash), year over year. Plateau from last year to this year. @WCPO pic.twitter.com/UduYoBNWGt
— Pat LaFleur (@pat_laFleur) March 4, 2019
