Man struck and killed by MBTA bus, residents raise safety concerns

A man hit by an MBTA bus on Saturday at Forest Hills has died of his injuries, The Boston Globe reported on Wednesday.

The Suffolk County District Attorney identified the victim as 63-year-old Glenn Inghram in a statement to the Globe. 

Attorneys representing Inghram and his family said the incident happened at 11:52 a.m. at the Forest Hills MBTA stop. Inghram’s family believes he was running an errand when he was struck while in a crosswalk, the statement said.

The Boston Police Department’s Homicide Unit investigated the scene due to the severity of Inghram’s injuries, according to the statement. Boston police did not immediately respond to a request for comment. 

The DA’s office told the Globe it has not filed charges. 

Inghram’s family flew in from Denver to have a press conference on Thursday, which attorneys said will detail their “intended course of action.”

Neighbors raise safety concerns after pedestrian killed

Nearby residents wrote an open letter to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, Boston Public Works, and the MBTA in the wake of Inghram’s death, citing safety concerns around the Forest Hills stop. All three organizations did not immediately reply to a request for comment concerning the letter.

“As residents of Forest Hills, Woodbourne, and Jamaica Plain, we have for many years witnessed traffic and pedestrian safety deteriorate around Forest Hills Station,” the letter said. “In the wake of immense tragedy, we ask you to address the dangerous and worsening infrastructure with greater haste.”

Construction on the nearby Hyde Park Avenue Corridor has left the area vulnerable to crashes, according to the petition. Neighbors called the Oct. 12 crash a “chilling and tragic reminder” of the need for more infrastructure to protect pedestrians from traffic.

In addition, the letter said traffic has worsened around Forest Hills in recent years. It claims that there is “no visible traffic enforcement” in the area and that speeding cars have become a frequent problem.

“Whatever circumstances surround the tragedy on October 12, it is clear to us that Forest Hills has become dangerously neglected,” the letter said. 

Potential safety measures at Forest Hills

The letter urges the MBTA, along with city and state officials, to implement seven different safety improvements near the station. 

The letter’s first ask is for a full pedestrian walk signal, separate from bus timing, at the intersection of Tower and Washington Streets. In addition, they want the intersection of Arborway and Washington Street to follow the same pedestrian-only crosswalk timing. 

The letter calls for curb extensions, a new stoplight at Weld Hill Street, and the removal of landscaping around Tower Street to improve visibility for bus drivers. Petitioners also asked for flex posts to separate pedestrians from traffic, as well as reevaluated bus routes. 

“The tragic incident on October 12 serves as a stark reminder that the safety of our community cannot wait, the letter said. “We urge you to act expeditiously, before another tragedy strikes.”

620 people have signed the letter as of Wednesday night, according to organizer Benjamin Siegel.

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Eva Levin is a general assignment co-op for Boston.com. She covers breaking and local news in Boston and beyond.

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