SKOWHEGAN — A woman who police believe “walked into traffic” on Madison Avenue was struck and killed Sunday night.

Kathy Barker, 51, of Skowhegan, was struck by a pickup truck driven by Jason Carrigan, 37, at about 8:19 p.m., according to a press release from the Skowhegan Police Department.

The accident happened at the intersection of Constitution and Madison avenues, which is U.S. Route 201, said Skowhegan Police Chief Don Bolduc. There is a traffic light at the intersection and it was green, he said.

Bolduc said it doesn’t look like Barker intentionally walked in front of moving traffic, but the accident itself is still under investigation. Bolduc said he was not sure why she may have crossed when the light was green for oncoming traffic, nor did he have information about where Barker was going to or coming from.

The speed limit in the area is 35 mph. Neither alcohol nor speed seem to have been factors, Bolduc said.

“Any intersection is dangerous if people don’t adhere to signage and things like that,” he said. “It’s important people are not wearing dark clothes and all those things we’ve talked about before about safety.”

An ambulance was behind the pickup truck at the time of the accident, and the EMTs saw Barker get hit and responded immediately, Bolduc said.

Barker was taken to Redington-Fairview General Hospital, where she died of her injuries. he said.

The Skowhegan Police Department was assisted at the scene by Redington-Fairview EMS, Somerset County Sheriff’s Department, Maine State Police and the Skowhegan Fire Department.

 

Rachel Ohm — 612-2368

rohm@centralmaine.com

Twitter: @rachel_ohm