Blind and low vision pedestrians travel independently using white canes and guide dogs. But even the most skilled pedestrian cannot control the actions of others on the road.
Personal Stories
These personal accounts show how quickly an ordinary street crossing can become dangerous and how the effects of a collision can continue long after physical injuries have healed.
Sue M.
“I was hit by a car that was turning right out of a parking lot. The driver looked to the left for approaching traffic but failed to recheck the right before pulling out into the path where I was crossing. The incident really shook me. It made me realize that even when I did everything right, someone else’s actions could still put me in danger.”
Jim K.
“I was in the second half of a crossing when a cyclist approached without slowing down and struck me. The impact knocked me to the road and split open my head. The cyclist left but a motorist who was yielding when the collision took place drove me to the hospital. I was evaluated for a possible concussion and received several stitches. For weeks afterward, I felt apprehensive whenever I crossed a street.”
Christina B.
“I was crossing a small side street when the driver of an SUV, who had been watching to his left for a break in traffic, suddenly pulled into the crosswalk. He struck me with enough force to fracture my kneecap and dislocate my knee. It took months to heal and even longer to rebuild my confidence and overcome my fear of being hit whenever I crossed a street.”
News Reports
The news reports below document collisions involving blind and low vision pedestrians and the serious and lasting consequences these incidents can have on their lives.
Blind Woman and Guide Dog Suffer Life-Threatening Injuries in Crosswalk
In 2023, Wendi Dwyer and her guide dog, Lily, were struck by a car while crossing a street in a marked crosswalk in Madison, Wisconsin.
Both Dwyer and Lily suffered life-threatening injuries.
Read the Spectrum News 1 report
Blind Pedestrian Injured in Austin Hit-and-Run
In March 2024, Zachary Arambula was crossing West 47th Street near the Criss Cole Rehabilitation Center for the Blind in Austin, Texas. He had crossed the first traffic lane and entered the second when a vehicle struck him.
The driver did not stop. Arambula suffered several broken bones and a mild concussion.
Read the FOX 7 Austin news report
Legally Blind Man Struck by Bicyclist in Boston
In July 2024, James Alan Fox, who is legally blind, was crossing Tremont Street at Dartmouth Street in Boston when a bicyclist came around the corner without stopping for a red light.
Fox’s white cane became caught in the bicycle’s spokes, causing both Fox and the bicyclist to fall.
Blind Woman Killed While Crossing With Walk Signal in Pennsylvania
In February 2026, Rebecca Funt, a legally blind woman, was struck and killed by a pickup truck while crossing at East King and South Queen streets in Littlestown, Pennsylvania.
According to court documents cited in news reports, Funt was in the crosswalk and had the walk signal when she was struck.
Guide Dog Killed When Vehicle Strikes Blind Pedestrian
In April 2026, a 77-year-old blind woman and her guide dog, Jemma, were struck by a tractor-trailer in downtown Arthur, Ontario.
The woman suffered fractures to both legs and was hospitalized with serious injuries. Jemma, her black Labrador guide dog, died as a result of the collision.
Read the Wellington Advertiser news report
Every Crossing Counts
Safe crossings depend on everyone doing their part.
STAY ALERT. SLOW DOWN. YIELD.
Share the Message
Every Crossing Counts campaign materials are available to help individuals and organizations share this important public-safety message.