Anne Rapkin Obituary, Death; – Local authorities reported that an elderly woman lost her life after being hit by a vehicle on a roadway in West Hartford on the evening before Thanksgiving. The West Hartford Police Department has identified the victim as 74-year-old Anne Rapkin, a resident of West Hartford.
According to the WHPD, officers and the West Hartford Fire Department were dispatched at approximately 6:44 p.m. on Wednesday in response to a report of a motor vehicle accident at the intersection of Sedgwick and Cornell roads.
Upon arrival, emergency responders quickly assessed the situation, confirming that the incident involved a collision between a passenger vehicle and an adult pedestrian. The pedestrian sustained “serious injuries” and was promptly transported to a local hospital, as stated by the WHPD.
Authorities indicated that the driver of the vehicle remained at the scene and was cooperative with the investigation. At 11:42 p.m., the WHPD announced that the woman, identified as Rapkin, had succumbed to her injuries from the collision.
The investigation is ongoing, and the WHPD has stated that no additional information will be released at this time. The incident necessitated the closure of nearby roads for several hours to facilitate the police investigation.
This tragic pedestrian incident adds to a concerning trend in the area. A series of fatal accidents in 2022, including five fatalities in December alone, led to a comprehensive town-wide investigation and the establishment of the Vision Zero traffic safety initiative.
This initiative was ultimately endorsed by the West Hartford Town Council on February 27. However, 2024 has proven to be a challenging year on the roads, with this incident marking at least three fatalities involving elderly pedestrians and vehicles thus far.
Earlier this year, on January 6, an 80-year-old man was struck and killed on Albany Avenue, and on November 6, an 87-year-old woman lost her life at the intersection of Oakwood Avenue and Saint James Street.
Anyone with information regarding the accident is encouraged to reach out to the West Hartford Police Department at 860-523-5203 or utilize the WHPD Tip Line/email at (860) 570-8969.
