Dubuque, IA : Pedestrian struck and killed by a semitruck near the Julien Dubuque Bridge on Thursday morning, April 30, 2015

A 45-year-old woman died this morning after being struck by a semi-tractor trailer at the intersection of Dodge and Locust streets in Dubuque.

The woman's name has not been released yet, as officers wait for all of her family to be notified first. Police anticipate the name will be released Friday morning at the latest.

According to Dubuque police, the woman was walking south, alongside the eastern side of Locust Street, and started crossing the Dodge Street intersection at about 10:30 a.m. As she was passing in front of a westbound semi that had just come over Julien Dubuque Bridge and that was stopped at a red light on Dodge Street, the light turned green. The semi's driver, Dennis M. Schulte, 48, of South Amana, Iowa, started to turn left onto Locust Street, apparently unable to see the woman, according to a press release.

“It appears that she was immediately in front of the truck as he pulled forward,”said police spokesman Lt. Scott Baxter . “The initial indication was that he couldn’t see her because she was too close. ... Those trucks are so high, and the hood extends out.”

The woman was pronounced dead at the scene.

According to Baxter, there is not a significant history of pedestrian accidents at the intersection.

“We usually don’t see pedestrian traffic in that intersection, mainly because it is not safe or favorable for pedestrians,” Baxter said. “There is not a designated crosswalk established because of the intersection’s size and the volume of traffic.”

Baxter said a sidewalk passes beneath the bridge to discourage pedestrians from walking across the busy intersection.

Portions of the intersection were closed for more than two hours before being reopened at 12:55 p.m.

Baxter said investigators reconstructed the incident and interviewed witnesses. Iowa Department of Transportation staff assisted with the investigation at the scene.

“We also have fairly significant video coverage in that area, so it is pretty clear what happened,” Baxter said.

No charges have been filed, and the investigation is ongoing.

Source :
Pedestrian struck, killed by semitruck near Dubuque bridge, police say