The 23-year-old woman who died early Tuesday night in a Methuen pedestrian accident was formally identified Thursday morning.
Erika Newvill of Haverhill was struck and killed by a 2014 Honda CRV Tuesday, about 7:10 p.m., while walking on Merrimack Street, Route 110, in Methuen. As WHAV reported earlier, Methuen police were dispatched after receiving a report of a pedestrian struck by a motor vehicle. Officers discovered the woman suffered severe injuries.
She was taken to Lawrence General Hospital where she was pronounced dead. A Methuen Police Department press release initially misidentified the hospital. A resident’s social media report also initially misidentified Newvill’s place of residence.
The driver remained at the scene and cooperated with police. A Methuen police statement said officials are studying whether poor lighting was a contributing factor.
The Methuen Police Department, Massachusetts State Police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section, and the Massachusetts Office of the Chief Medical Examiner are investigating the incident.
WHAV cautions listeners and readers to listen and look for the names of official sources when following social media posts and even some other news organizations. Absent attribution, first reports are often no more than rumors or speculation. WHAV takes care to obtain trustworthy information and name official, reputable and reliable sources. Online comments are often erroneous and initial first responder communications are subject to on-scene verification.