Police identify man killed in hit-and-run in South Omaha
Fatality has neighborhood concerned for pedestrian safety
OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) - Authorities have identified the man killed in a fatal hit-and-run Tuesday morning.
Walter Tighe, 89, was crossing West Center Road from north to south when a silver truck struck him while headed west near 35th Avenue.
Medics declared Tighe dead the the scene.
The truck was last seen going northbound on 36th Street, according to police.
West Center Road was reportedly blocked off in both directions for several blocks.
Residents in the area grow concerned for their safety.
Tuesday morning, while enjoying a cup of coffee with her husband, Coleen Rasmussen says she heard a loud thump.
“My husband looked out the window and could see debris in the street, then realized there was a body in the street,” Rasmussen said.
After calling 911, her husband conducted traffic control while she and her neighbor rushed to the man in the street, conducting CPR.
Rasmussen says the man had a familiar face.
”He’s walked in our neighborhood for years, wave and say hi to him when he walks by,” she said.
The pedestrian was later identified as 89-year-old Walter Tighe of Omaha.
Omaha Police said he was crossing West Center Road when the driver of a silver truck hit him.
Rasmussen says the crosswalk can be dangerous if you aren’t paying attention to the road. Recently she herself was almost struck while walking with her granddaughter.
“I got out to the middle of the street and a car blew through the light right in front of us,” she said. “I have seen that happen over and over, it happens repeatedly.”
Rasmussen says many in the area have small kids, which grows her concern for safety. Even pulling out of her driveway can be difficult.
Nearby neighbor Cherie Barg is also concerned, telling 6 News the entire intersection has seen a lot of action.
“We’ve had people run into Ford birthplace which is not that far away and unbelievably take out some nice things in the Ford birthplace,” Barg said. “We have had accidents on the street, and I live right on South 32nd Avenue, and it’s a lot of speeding.”
She said interstate traffic between Vinton Street and Ed Creighton Avenue adds to an already busy area.
Rasmussen says it becomes a hot spot during peak hours of the day.
“There are two elementary schools, one is on the south side of Center, one is on the north side,” Rasmussen said. “So there are children crossing at that crosswalk at different times of the day. There are people who do walk up and down. It’s really incredibly busy right now; but sometimes during the day, it isn’t. The sidewalks are very narrow; they are way too narrow to traverse safely.”
She would like to see more improvement efforts put in to make the area more secure. She suggests adding a roundabout at 36th Street, narrowing the street to allow for more parking, or install speed bumps.
Barg agrees something needs to change.
“We need to look at the speed limits and really monitor them. I think sometimes the average is 40-50 mph, down these streets here,” she said.
OPD said they’re still searching for the silver truck involved in the incident. Anyone with information is asked to contact OPD or Omaha Crime Stoppers.
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