Salem Deputy Police Chief Tyler Rose says a Salem Police Officer clipped a pedestrian who stepped across the white line into the lane of traffic on West Main Street east of Selmaville Road last night.
Rose says the incident occurred in an area that is not lighted and there is no sidewalk. The female pedestrian identified as 41-year-old Katie Davita-Gaudet of Sandoval was wearing all-black clothing and walking eastbound when the incident occurred. The female was struck in the arm by the passenger side mirror of the patrol car.
Rose says the Salem officer immediately turned around and got out with the female to check for injuries. EMS was called to the scene to check the female.
The Marion County Sheriff’s Department is handling the crash.
Rose says the dash cam of the patrol car was activated and captured the point of impact with the pedestrian. The video shows that, due to no street lighting in this area, the officer had less than one second from when the female came into his headlights until the point of impact. Rose says thankfully the female did not appear to have major injuries. However, she was transported to the hospital for further evaluation.
Cripps is asking pedestrians to walk against traffic and wear reflective or light-colored clothing so they can better be seen at night.
