UPDATED, March 27: William M. Dotson, at left, a 91-year-old pedestrian, was struck and killed by a vehicle on Mass. Ave. in East Arlington Monday, March 23. Funeral services were held.
Globe, March 25: Neighbors mourn kind soul
Word on the Street, March 25: Avenue claims another life
This was the second death of a pedestrian on Mass. Ave. since Dec. 19, 2013, when a North Cambridge woman was struck in the crosswalk near Sabatino’s and died the next day.
Just before 11 a.m., Arlington police responded to the report of a pedestrian stuck by a motor vehicle at 164 Mass. Ave. near Milton Street. Chief Frederick Ryan said the victim appears to have been walking in a crosswalk when he was struck. The pedestrian was taken to Mass. General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
He was struck by a 2000 Honda Civic driven by a 60-year-old Woburn woman, who police have not charged and have declined to identify.
“My heart goes out to the family of our resident, whose life was tragically lost today,” Ryan said in a statement.
The Arlington Police Department, Middlesex District Attorney’s Office and State Police are investigating.
Last December, Judge Roanne Sragow entered the plea of not guilty for Paul S. Giragosian of Arlington, charged with motor-vehicular homicide by negligent operation.
About 10 p.m. Dec. 19, 2013, Elba Ortiz-Delgado, known as “Lucy,” of North Cambridge, was pushing a cart in a crosswalk near Sabatino’s and was struck by a car driven by Giragosian. The victim was taken to Massachusetts General Hospital, where she later died.
In an email March 23, jeaders of the East Arlington Livable Streets Coalition wrote: “[I]t seems like only yesterday that we wrote to express our shock and sadness about Elba Ortiz-Delgado being struck and killed by a car while walking in a crosswalk on Mass. Ave. in East Arlington. It’s been a little more than a year, but once again we face a pedestrian fatality in our neighborhood.
“Unlike last year’s late-night collision, this one was in broad daylight and resulted in the death of an elderly neighbor from Henderson Street. Our hearts go out to Bill Do[t]son’s family and friends.
“There is still much we do not know about the circumstances of the fatality. Reports seem to indicate he was in a crosswalk, one faded after the wear and tear of winter and without a yellow pedestrian crossing bollard.”
The group met Wednesday, March 25, in the Fox Library to talk about what members want to do in response to the “continued carnage on Mass. Ave.”
The evening after the fatal accident, Town Manager Adam Chapdelaine told selectmen that work on the Mass. Ave. Corridor project was to resume the week of March 30. One aim of the project is to improve pedestrian safety.
Obituary information
An obituary on the DeVito-O’Donnell Funeral site provides further information:
Beloved husband of the late Charlotte (Marsal) Dotson. Father of Sheila Keene and her late husband James Keene of Brockton, Ellen Serino and her husband Arthur Serino Jr., of Newton, William S. Dotson and his wife Carol Ann Dotson of Gaithersburg, Md., and Leslie Dotson and her husband Brian Horgan of Pine Bush, N.Y.
Grandfather of Arthur III and John Serino, Nathan and Emily Dotson, David Lovi, Sara Walsh and her husband Richard Walsh.
Great-grandfather of Andrew Walsh. Brother of the late Herbert Dotson his surviving wife, Giuseppina Dotson; the late John P. Dotson and his late wife, Jean Dotson.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend visiting hours on Tuesday, March 31, from 3 to 7 p.m. in the DeVito-O’Donnell Funeral Home, 1145 Mass. Ave.
Masonic service and funeral services to begin at 7 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in William’s memory to The Tuesdays Meals Program at First Parish Church UU, 3 Church St., Cambridge, MA 02138.
For directions or to send a condolence visit, the funeral home site.
This report was published Monday, March 23, 2015, and updated March 27, to add obituary information.
