Authorities have identified an 86-year-old woman who was hit and killed while walking Monday in Malden, Massachusetts.
Athena Hartwell, a resident of a nearby elderly housing facility, died after being hit by an SUV on Huntington Street, the Middlesex County District Attorney's Office said Tuesday.
The crash happened shortly after 1:30 p.m. Monday. The SUV burst through the door of an auto shop and hit Hartwell before coming to rest atop a brick wall, according to investigators.
Hartwell was pronounced dead at the scene while the driver, who remained at the scene of the crash, was taken to a hospital, authorities said.
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The driver, identified only as a 28-year-old Malden man, was citing for driving with a suspended license. Prosecutors say a court date has not been scheduled.
The cause of the crash is under investigation.
Witnesses said they heard a loud boom and saw the woman stricken near her walker, while the driver was dazed. A manager at a nearby business said the woman routinely walked around the block.
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"She walked right past my car as I was eating," said Peter LeBlanc. "I was just sitting in my car eating lunch and then I just heard the crash and I heard people yelling and I looked up and saw the car on the sidewalk."
Family members of the victim told NBC10 Boston they're "still processing" what happened and declined to comment further.
"I would see that lady walk by at least a few times a week," said LeBlanc, who works in the neighborhood.
Prosecutors are investigating with state and local police.
