Report: Victim didn’t use crosswalk, officer was speeding

The City of Hartselle has added lighting to make pedestrians more visible on South Sparkman Street after a pedestrian was killed after being hit by a police car earlier this month.

On Nov. 5, William Anderson, 71, died at Huntsville Hospital more than three hours after he was struck by a Hartselle police car driven by Lt. James Holladay on South Sparkman Street between the Hickory and Rodgers streets.

According to the police report from Alabama State Troopers, Holladay was traveling south 40 miles per hour in a 25-mile-per-hour zone.

Anderson was crossing from the east side of Sparkman Street to the west side in front of the Alcoholic Anonymous meeting place, but the report indicated he didn’t use a crosswalk.

A crosswalk is located just south of the crash site at the Rodgers Street intersection.

Hartselle Police Chief Ron Puckett said although Holladay was speeding, he said that was not the cause of the crash.

“The report said the prime contributing factor of the crash was that Mr. Anderson failed to yield the right of way to the police car,” Puckett said. “Speeding was not cause the accident.

“I am very saddened for what both families have gone through since it happened.  I hope that we never have another pedestrian killed during a car crash again. I don’t want anyone to have to deal with this ever again.”

To help prevent another pedestrian accident in this area, Mayor Don Hall said Hartselle Utilities has added two 100-watt LED streetlights in front of the Alcoholics Anonymous building. He said they also repositioned another streetlight to help make the area visible.

“Many of the people who attend (Alcoholics Anonymous) meetings park across the street because there’s not enough parking outside of the building,” Hall said. “While there is a crosswalk nearby, most people don’t use it. So we want to increase visibility around that area.”

Hall said that Department of Development Director Jeff Johnson is also studying Sparkman Street to see if any other improvements need to be made.