A 36-year-old man was struck and killed Monday on Western Avenue in Knoxville after a van left the roadway and hit him on a sidewalk, according to police. The Knoxville Police Department has opened an investigation into the deadly collision.
Crash And Investigation
The Knoxville Police Department is investigating the circumstances of the crash, as reported by WBIR. According to that report, the van left the roadway before striking the man on a nearby sidewalk. Authorities have not released the victim’s name, and the investigation remains active while officers work to piece together what led up to the impact.
Investigators are reviewing the crash scene, examining vehicle damage, and looking over any available surveillance or witness video as they try to determine how and why the van left the road. No arrests or charges have been announced. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Knoxville Police Department.
A Dangerous Stretch For Pedestrians
Western Avenue is no stranger to serious collisions. A crash analysis from the Knoxville Regional Transportation Planning Organization identifies Western as one of Knoxville’s major arterial roads that accounts for a disproportionate share of pedestrian and bicyclist crashes, according to a report from KNOX TPO.
Recent traffic data echo those concerns. The Knoxville Police Department recorded two fatalities on Western Avenue in its latest traffic report, WVLT notes, underscoring long-standing worries about pedestrian safety on the corridor.
