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Neighbors, safety groups react to 3 pedestrian, bicyclist crashes on Friday in Indianapolis

In addition to a fatal hit-and-run crash at Stop 11 and Madison Avenue, there were two crashes involving bicyclists on New York Street and College Avenue on Friday.

INDIANAPOLIS — At East Stop 11 Road, people stood around a crime scene where their neighbor was hit and killed Friday night.

"We understand it's not safe to cross here," Ilangi Bawili said. "We don't have crosswalks here."

According to IMPD, just before 11 p.m. Aug. 9, officers responded to East Stop 11 Road on a report of a serious crash involving a person struck. When they arrived, they found a man lying in the street. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

The Marion County Coroner's Office identified the man as 28-year-old Jeanclaude Lubunga.

Police said he was walking in the middle of the street when a driver hit him. The driver then took off. Police said they have no suspect or vehicle description at this time.

Credit: WTHR
Onlookers gather after a fatal crash on E. Stop 11 Road and Madison Avenue, Friday, Aug. 9, 2024 in Indianapolis.

Neighbors told 13News this wasn't the first time someone was hit crossing the street. Now, they are urging the city to put in crosswalks.

"We don't care if we might lose the case or win the case, we just need justice — that's it," Bawili said.

That was not the only incident involving a pedestrian on Friday. Pedestrian safety group Indy Pedestrian Safety Crisis said there were two involving bicyclists around East New York Street and North College Avenue just hours apart.

Credit: WTHR
IMPD squad cars surround a taped-off area of E. Stop 11 Road and Madison Avenue after a fatal crash, Friday, Aug. 9, 2024 in Indianapolis.

"It is always really concerning when you hear these incidents happen, but to see multiple in the same location on the same day, it definitely is odd," said Eric Holt, founder of Indy Ped Crisis.

On the Indy Pedestrian Safety Crisis website, one of the incidents happened just after midnight, then the next around 2:30 p.m. 

Holt says the "Vision Zero" proposal can stop incidents like these. It looks to eliminate traffic deaths and severe injuries in Marion County by 2035.

"Our streets have become extremely unsafe for driving too, so a lot of these same things that we are working on or that will come out of a Vision Zero Action Plan will make our streets safer for all users," Holt said.

Vision Zero is up for a final vote at Monday's City-County Council meeting.

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