Pedestrian crash shows danger on Cooley

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - 22News working for you with word of a very dangerous stretch of street in Springfield. A Pregnant woman was critically injured Saturday night when she was hit by a car while crossing Cooley Street from the Five Town Plaza shopping center.

Springfield traffic officer Ed Hiney told 22News that the woman was wearing dark clothing at the time of the accident, which happened during the early evening hours. She is still in critical condition

Hiney called attention to the rise in the road that prevents drivers from seeing pedestrians until it's too late. 22News traveled that route today to experience what it's like. At least one shopper at Five Town Plaza avoids Cooley Street at all costs. “You have people turning right away, and they cut you off, you have to turn really quick to get around them,” Kelly Norris of Wilbraham said.

In the words of traffic officer Ed Hiney, Cooley Street is a 35 mile per hour zone, but very few drivers stay with the speed limit.