BRATTLEBORO — The town urges witnesses to the hit-and-run that resulted in the death of a pedestrian on Dec. 6 to contact the police, confidentially if need be.
A car struck Eugene Narratt, 64, of Maynard, Mass., at about 7 p.m. in the vicinity of Union Street and Western Avenue.
“A terrible tragedy occurred Friday,” said Interim Town Manager Patrick Moreland. Narratt was injured but alive when the driver left the area. Leaving Narratt alone denied him prompt medical attention.
Emergency personnel responded to the accident, and Brattleboro Police say that the car which hit Narratt left the scene.
Narratt was taken to Brattleboro Memorial Hospital, where he died that night.
Brattleboro police ask anyone with information in the death of Eugene Narratt to call 802-257-7950, or the department's confidential tip line at 802-251-8189.
Police say Narratt was the fourth pedestrian to be killed on Brattleboro's streets in the past two years.
The town recently approved a traffic calming plan aimed at identifying the range of devices and strategies available to increase safety for drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists. The town also maintains a Traffic Safety and Control Committee, said Moreland.
Brattleboro also recently received a series of state grants to evaluate safety and methods of slowing traffic in the areas of Western Avenue and Union Street as well as around Academy School in West Brattleboro.
Education has also topped the town's list for increasing pedestrian safety, said Moreland.
“Be bright at night” is Brattleboro's tag line for increasing pedestrian awareness of the need to make themselves as visible as possible to drivers at night.
The town distributes free reflective arm bands as part of this education program. Bands are available at the Chamber of Commerce, the Town Manager's office, the Brattleboro Area Drop In Center, and local veterinary clinics.