INDIANAPOLIS — A 73-year-old man has died after being hit by a driver in Indianapolis near the intersection of 25th and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. streets on the near northwest side.
Theodore Taylor was hit by the driver of a red Toyota hatchback around 4 p.m. Friday, Nov. 15. Police said Taylor was awake and breathing when he was taken to the hospital, but he was pronounced dead Saturday, Nov. 16.
IMPD said the driver stayed at the scene and cooperated with investigators.
Thirty-eight pedestrians and cyclists have died after being hit by drivers in Indianapolis in 2024. Ten of those killed have been over the age of 50.
On Sunday, Nov. 17, 66-year-old James Lee Poole was struck and killed in the intersection of West Kessler Boulevard North Drive and Lafayette Road. His death was one of the 21 deadly hit and runs involving pedestrians in Indianapolis this year.
Indy's Vision Zero Taskforce begins its work
On Oct. 23, the new Vision Zero Taskforce met for the first time. Their goal is to reduce the number of pedestrians and cyclists killed by drivers to zero by 2035.
The task force introduced its members and laid out its plans for next steps. They also introduced Vision Zero consultant Maria Cantrell. She was a Vision Zero coordinator for the city of Columbus, Ohio. The chairman of the taskforce, Councilor John Barth, said the experience the consultants provide will help them figure out what will work best for our city.
"We are going to bring together a lot of experience from other cities. Our consultants will say, 'This is how Columbus, Ohio does it, this is how New York does it, this is how Hoboken does it,'" Barth said. "So we can learn those lessons and infuse the things we really think are best practices and put them into our plan."
Barth said community engagement will be vital.
"Vision Zero doesn't work unless you have the support of the community," Barth said.
Connie Szabo Schmucker, with Bicycle Garage Indy, said that's exactly why she attended the meeting.
"Right now, there are a lot of people not getting home safely, whether they are walking or biking or going to transit or in a car. Improving our roadways so everyone gets home safely should be important for everybody," Schmucker said.
One of Schmucker's co-workers was hit and killed while riding his bike three years ago. She said making the roads safer for pedestrians and cyclists will also help drivers.
They hope to have the first draft of the action plan completed by 2025. Another meeting is planned for December, at which time the task force will allow public comment.
