Fairhaven Pedestrian Hit by Car Dies in Hospital

UPDATE: A letter from Carolyn Preece's family giving more context to the story has been printed in its entirety at the end, and some details have been added to the story for context.

FAIRHAVEN — The elderly pedestrian hit by a car on Sconticut Neck Road in Fairhaven last week has died in the hospital, according to the Bristol County District Attorney's Office.

D.A.'s office spokesman Gregg Miliote identified the victim as 81-year-old Carolyn Preece of Fairhaven.

Preece died at St. Luke's Hospital in New Bedford over the weekend of injuries sustained in the crash.

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The fatal crash took place near 100 Sconticut Neck Rd. at around 6:24 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 28.

A 67-year-old Fairhaven woman was driving the vehicle that hit Preece, and remained at the scene, Miliote said.

According to Miliote, she was not impaired by drugs or alcohol and did not have a cell phone on her at the time of the crash.

Preece's daughter Carolyn Metivier told WBSM that Sconticut Neck Road is dangerous, and noted that there is no crosswalk in the area where her mother was crossing the street.

"There are also no sidewalks on any of the streets from my Mom's home on Grove Street all the way to Sconticut Neck Road," Metivier wrote.

"She does not drive and was a heathy woman who walked everywhere, so a small walk to the local convenience store was a regular occurrance for her."

Miliote noted that the victim was wearing dark clothing on a night with poor visibility.

Although the investigation is ongoing, Miliote said, "this appears to be a tragic accident."

No charges have been filed in connection to the crash.

"Hello Kate,

My name is Carolyn Metivier, I am one of Carolyn Preece's 6 children.  You may remember that name because you recently reported on her being hit by a car crossing the street in Fairhaven.  I felt you should know your article was extremely offensive to her family who is already hurting due to the loss of our Mother.  In your article you spent more words essencially exonerating the driver who hit her than you did on the fact that a pedestrian was once again hit on that dangerous street You essencially re victimized my mother when you reported that she was 81, wearing dark clothing and not in a crosswalk.  A few things you should know;  There is no crosswalk in that area!  There are also No sidewalks on any of the streets from my Mom's home on Grove Street all the way to Sconticut Neck Road.  She does not drive and was a heathy woman who walked everywhere so a small walk to the local convenience store was a regular occurrance for her.  By simply stating those oversimplified facts that night you basically said it was a tragic accident and therefore no big deal.  I can tell you it is a big deal to her family.  Perhaps next time you write something like this you may want to show a little compassion for the victim, and she was that, an innocent victim who was taken from us too soon.   The real story here is the fact that Fairhaven has know that intersection is dangerous and continues to do Nothing about it!