Update: Milwaukee police say a 77-year-old man who was hit by a driver near Layton and Greenfield on Thursday has died. The driver, a 36-year-old man from Milwaukee, was arrested and charges for knowingly operating without a valid license causing death is being referred to the Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office.
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MILWAUKEE — A pedestrian is suffering life-threatening injuries after being struck by a driver in Milwaukee on Thursday.
Milwaukee police say the incident happened near S. Layton and Greenfield around 2:20 p.m.
The victim, a 77-year-old Milwaukee man, was transported to the hospital and is listed in grave condition.
Police say the driver remained on the scene and is cooperating with police.
This is the second pedestrian hit by a car in the last 24 hours along the same busy Milwaukee street.
71-year-old Lawrence Strzelecki from Greenfield died Wednesday evening after he was struck by a driver near 27th and Parnell.
The driver in that incident also remained at the scene. Police identified the driver as a 56-year-old man from Illinois.
According to the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner's Office, Strzelecki was reported missing by his family nearly an hour before the incident occurred.
The driver told authorities he ran out in the street and didn't see him.
Elvida Salas has lived near S. Layton and Greenfield for nearly three decades. After several close calls, she's decided it's safer to be picked up by her son instead of walking.
"Sometimes drivers don't respect the stops," Salas said.
Robert Schneider, a professor of urban planning at UW Milwaukee, says many of the most dangerous streets for pedestrians are built like 27th street with more than one lane and high driving speeds.
"I think it's one of the key underlying factors leading to pedestrian safety risk, multiple lanes, and higher speeds," said Schneider. "Multiple lanes also create a situation where, if one car slows down because they see a pedestrian, the car in the next lane over may not see that pedestrian."
Over the past five years on the four-mile stretch of 27th street where these two incidents took place, there have been five pedestrian deaths and 50 injuries.
That makes a total of 55 crashes with people on foot.
Schneider says some of the strategies that communities across the country are using, including Milwaukee, is looking at ways to reduce the number of lanes for automobiles through traffic, and converting those lanes into something else.
That can include anything from adding bike lanes to curb extensions. He says giving drivers less room to speed will make roads safer for people walking and biking.
"Ultimately we want to create spaces where people are comfortable out on the streets, walking, biking, in a car - those are the types of places where people can be a part of the community."
Sixteen percent of households in the city don't own a car. Schneider says that makes the need for convenient and safe places to walk essential.
Alderwoman JoCasta Zamarripa and Alderman Scott Spiker released the following statement Friday:
"The past two days have been deadly for seniors attempting to cross busy streets in the City of Milwaukee.
A man from Greenfield was killed when a vehicle hit him in the 13th Aldermanic District near S. 27th St. and W. Parnell Ave. Wednesday (March 1) night, according to Milwaukee Police.
The 71-year-old pedestrian died at the scene of the crash, police said, and the driver of the vehicle that hit him stayed on the scene.
On Thursday (March 2) afternoon, a 77-year-old man was struck by a vehicle as he was attempting to cross S. Layton Blvd. near W. Greenfield Ave. in the 8th Aldermanic District. The man was hospitalized with life-threatening injuries and has now died, according to Milwaukee Police.
The driver in the Layton Blvd. crash also stayed at the scene, and MPD reports criminal charges against the driver will be referred to the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office.
We are saddened and frustrated by these tragic incidents, and we offer our sincere condolences to the families and friends of the victims.
As Council members, we strive for streets that are safe for everyone – pedestrians, drivers, bicyclists and those using other legal means of transportation. It is our intention to continue looking for improvements that can help ensure safety for all commuters across Milwaukee.
We urge everyone driving to slow down, and to drive in a defensive manner at all times. Get to your destination safely, and ALWAYS keep an eye out for anyone who may be crossing the roadway either slowly and/or unexpectedly."
