Western Springs Pedestrian Death: Findings Released

WESTERN SPRINGS, IL – Western Springs police last week released the findings in the November death of a pedestrian on Ogden Avenue.

Patch obtained the report through a public records request.

Walter Mahoney, 74, a retired journalist, died in the crash, which occurred about 5:15 p.m. Nov. 19, police said. The sun had set 45 minutes earlier.

According to the report, Mahoney was walking – by some accounts, jogging – south across the four-lane Ogden, from Bemis Woods Forest Preserve to Woodland Avenue.

Mahoney was outside of a designated crosswalk and wearing all dark clothing, police said.

On the southwest corner of the intersection, a sign reads, "No pedestrian crossing – use the crosswalk at Wolf Road," which is three blocks to the east, police said.

The report listed Mahoney as the "primary contributing factor" in the collision.

The driver of a BMW did not see Mahoney until the pedestrian was in front of the driver, so the driver did not have enough time to react before striking Mahoney, the report said.

The driver was estimated to be going 32 to 38 mph before the crash; the speed limit is 35 mph.

The driver stopped, saw Mahoney on the ground and immediately called 911, police said.

Mahoney lived a few blocks from the crash site.

Mahoney was the senior vice president of Tribune Media Services, where he worked for 38 years, according to his obituary. He was credited with helping develop a newswire service connecting newspapers around the world.

In retirement, he became a docent at the Illinois Holocaust Museum and tutored high school students in a GED program.

He grew up in Richmond, Virginia, and graduated from the University of Georgia with a journalism degree.