LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD) is investigating after vehicles hit and killed two people early Thursday morning.
Both incidents happened within an hour of each other — one on the Clark Memorial Bridge, the other on I-64 East. LMPD said both victims were walking in the road when they were hit.
What You Need To Know
- Two pedestrians were hit and killed early Thursday morning, March 14
- According to the Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD), both victims were walking in the road when they were hit
- The U.S. Department of Transportation encourages drivers to be extra careful when driving in hard-to-see conditions
- It also suggests pedestrians use a sidewalk when available and follow the rules of the road
Johnny T. Sollitto lives in New York but travels to Louisville often. When he visits, he said he makes a habit of running across the Clark Memorial Bridge.
"It's my favorite bridge," he said.
Despite a fatality on the bridge early Thursday, Sollitto said he feels safe running across the bridge.
“You have the high curb and then you have the steel beams coming down," Sollitto said. "If a car did come over, it would really be your time because it’s almost impossible to get hit."
At a press conference, LMPD Police Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel announced the department’s goal to decrease traffic fatalities by 5%. Officials reported six pedestrian fatalities for the year and total traffic fatalities were down 14% from this time last year.
“We’re very serious that our streets here in Louisville remain safe," Gwinn-Villaroel said. "We are dedicated (to) doing our job in order to ensure that we can navigate our streets and our roads in a safe manner for everyone."
In 2022, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet reported 270 crashes where a pedestrian died or was seriously injured.
Vision Zero Louisville is a part of Louisville Metro Public Works and aims to have no pedestrian fatalities by 2050. The group said sidewalks, highly visible crosswalks and lighting are some key ways to reduce fatalities.
“We want to continue to promote public safety on our highways and our byways," said Gerina D. Whethers, the Jefferson County Commonwealth attorney. "We just simply want our citizens to be able to get from point A to point B, for them to be able to get home to their families."
The United States Department of Transportation encourages drivers to be extra careful when driving in hard-to-see conditions. It also suggests pedestrians use a sidewalk when available and follow the rules of the road.