Watertown, Somerville Mourn Educator Killed In Hit-And-Run
SOMERVILLE (CBS) - Candles were glowing on a chilly Saturday night in Somerville, where a local woman was being mourned. Police say 40-year-old Allison Donovan was struck and killed by the hit-and-run driver of a pick-up truck. It happened Friday night on Powder House Boulevard. Donovan was a Watertown educator and administrator.
"It is with great sadness that we learned of the unexpected death of Allison Donovan. Ms. Donovan was a long time educator and administrator in the Watertown Public Schools who was loved by students and staff. She brought invaluable knowledge, insights, compassion, and dedication to the district and was passionate about providing students with the best education possible. She will be greatly missed and our thoughts and prayers go out to her family and friends at this most difficult time," said Dede Galdston, Superintendent of Watertown Public Schools, in a statement.
Galdston said the schools have a "well-developed protocol" in place to support students and faculty.
Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan and Somerville Police Chief David Fallon said 40-year-old Allison Donovan, of Somerville, was fatally struck at the intersection of Powder House Boulevard and Hardan Road at about 7:16 p.m. Investigators believe she was in a crosswalk with another woman, who has since been released from the hospital, when they were hit.
The intersection sits by a school and residents have been pushing the city to force drivers to slow down.
"Folks drive too fast" said Daniel Rosan. "They come off 16. They still think they're on a highway and we've asked the city for physical changes to the street, making it narrower, getting a table, getting speed bumps, things like that."
One neighbor said police shared some disturbing details.
"The police officer described to me that she was hit by a black, I think, pick-up truck, and she was trapped on the underside of the truck and dragged a certain distance, undisclosed to me, up the street before, I assume, that she fell off and was taken to the hospital. I'm actually just finding out she passed away," said neighbor Connor Dieck.
Neighbors like Rose Coleman want that driver to be caught."How do you keep going?" she said. "I can't fathom anybody doing that.I don't care. Even if you all of a sudden you realize, 'oh my God'...turn yourself in."
Police are making a public appeal for help to find the driver. They're looking for a "newer model, full-size black pickup truck with front-end driver's side damage." The pickup might be a Ford F-150 and has a black cover over the truck bed.
Anyone who might have information that could help identify the driver can call Somerville police at 617-625-1600 ext. 7250 or 7254. Tips can also be texted to TIP411 (begin text message with 617spd).
