Cumberland Woman Killed Crossing Mendon Road
25-year-old mother dies after being struck while seeking aid for a broken-down vehicle.
A Cumberland woman on her way home from visiting her baby at Women and Infants Hospital was struck on Mendon Road Wednesday night and rushed to Rhode Island Hospital. She was pronounced dead on Thursday.
Krystal Lynn Durkin, 25, was reportedly having car troubles and the van she was driving may have been out of gas when she attempted to cross the road for assistance Wednesday around 11:45 p.m. The oncoming vehicle, a 1999 Toyota Corolla operated by 32-year-old Kevin Poirier, of Cranston was traveling northbound when it struck Durkin just over 300 feet from the intersection of Mendon Road and Cumberland Hill Road in the 2000 block.
Durkin was reportedly on her way home from visiting her premature infant before the accident.
No charges have been filed against Poirier and a preliminary investigation has shown no signs that the incident involved drugs or alcohol. The accident is still under investigation by Lt. Todd Boisvert of the Woonsocket Police Department, although police have stated they are unlikely to file charges.
Editor's note: The name of the victim has been corrected in this article and was previously listed as Kristen Durkin
Stephen Weber
4:43 am on Friday, August 19, 2011
I'm wondering if this would have happened if All the street lights were on at night like they use to be ... That's a dark area to begin with and a lot of people speed in that area...
Yvette M Ayotte
6:08 am on Friday, August 19, 2011
Is there ALWAYS someone or something to blame??? Accidents happen!!!! and this
one is tragic enough without blame.
Jackie
7:12 am on Friday, August 19, 2011
You are so right Yvette. Also, before blaming street lights being off, what about the speeding! Speed kills!
Stephen Weber
7:32 am on Friday, August 19, 2011
Lighting may very well be the cause and probably is as the driver will probably not be charged ... I'm not attacking anyone @ all. On EVERY night time accident report, a police offer takes note of and puts the lighting conditions into his legal accident report . All accidents happen for a reason ... Long before my time those in power put up Street lights in certain locations every so many feet for a reason and I wasn't born yet but I would bet it wasn't to induce dim lighting for couples on Romantic strolls.. Lighting was put up for reasons of Public Safety I'm sure. Remove that lighting and public safety is obviously compromised... This isn't rocket science or a blame game... It's a statement of fact...
Erin B.
7:59 am on Friday, August 19, 2011
Why don't we all wait for the accident report to place blame on anyone/anything (cars do have headlights after all) rather than investing time bickering while this poor woman's family is grieving. I'm sure they most of all would like to know why this happened and if/how it could have been avoided.
Uncle Ben
12:14 pm on Friday, August 19, 2011
i agree somewhat with Stephen, if it were lit better it might have saved her life. On second hand, if the guy were speeding, in which he wasn't charged for it "yet", so why don't we all just wait a few days and see what the final cause was, but if it were the lights, see what the " City " saved ? May "God" rest her soul.
taxed2death
5:35 am on Friday, August 19, 2011
yhoo was it speed or the lights???
Yvette M Ayotte
6:07 am on Friday, August 19, 2011
God bless her and her family. What a tragic thing to happen.
XBOXONE RULES
6:48 am on Friday, August 19, 2011
there peopple go again attacking the city and if it was near cumberland they also take responsibility to
milly lapierre
7:04 am on Friday, August 19, 2011
prayers and sympthay go to her new child and her family.
Jackie
7:13 am on Friday, August 19, 2011
So sad. Prayers to this family. Prayers also to the driver who will have to live with this the rest of his life.
Bruce Heroux
7:23 am on Friday, August 19, 2011
From what the story suggests, it is either speeding or because of the late hour, she may not have been awake enough to be cautious in her street crossing. I am pretty sure Cumberland has not turned it's lights off like Woonsocket.
Jason D
8:02 am on Friday, August 19, 2011
To her family and friends. My condolences to you all and that little baby.
Local Resident
9:49 am on Friday, August 19, 2011
There are many victims in this . The young lady who died,her baby, her family, people who knew and loved her. Also the driver will have to carry this for the rest of his life. I am a walker and I know just how dangerous it is. We have to look out for automobiles, cause they certainly do not watch out for us!!!
English first
10:47 am on Friday, August 19, 2011
Such a sad story. This does not only happen in Woonsocket....
April16 hit and run death Somerset Ma
August 11 hit and run in Barrington
August 13 Warwick hit and run.... death
August 16th Somerset Ma death
At least this was not a hit and run........
Let's all be more careful with or without street lights. We all have headlights, mirrors and eyes. Sympathy to the young mom and her family.
P.S. Does taxed2death ever say anything worthwhile?
taxed2death
5:40 am on Sunday, August 21, 2011
what the h--ll for all you see about 80% of the time is ya''ll gotta blame someone or something before all the facts are in'
P.S. the only reason you put the p.s. is because you couldn't answer the question
lights or speed so sit back and wait
David Bouchard
6:13 pm on Friday, August 19, 2011
A tragedy that becomes more tragic with each new fact we learn. I have to agree with Yevette, accidents happen. A moment of inattention or a distraction on the part of either the driver or the pedestrian can result in something horrible. I think that there is already too much suffering for the people involved; let’s offer them our condolences and our support, and then let them be. If there was a crime the police will let us know and we can all pontificate then, but for now let’s think about those affected by this sad event and be thoughtfully quiet.
Michelle Higgins
9:52 am on Saturday, August 20, 2011
Very nicely stated Mr. Bouchard.
Thank you.
Uncle Ben
12:38 pm on Saturday, August 20, 2011
I agree, and I agree with Michelle. Thanks alot David.
xmascrl
7:34 am on Sunday, August 21, 2011
I agree, Mr. Bouchard. Now is not the time to point fingers. Now is the time to offer our prayers and strength to the friends and family of all parties involved. This is not an easy thing to deal with for either side, I'm sure, and to have to read "Blame Game" comments doesn't make any easier.
Brenda Lippe
8:34 pm on Friday, August 19, 2011
I would like to offer my sincerest condolences to her family and friends, especially to her premature baby. I hope she is going to be raised knowing her momma!
Melissa Henault
8:01 pm on Monday, August 22, 2011
This young woman just gave birth to a beautiful little girl a week ago who is still in the hospital. This child is now without a mother. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory. Information is listed under the JJ Duffy funeral home website. RIP Krystal. Deepest sympathies to the The Koziol and the Pianka Families.