Police are investigating a fatal pedestrian accident in Forestville, Md.
Police say a woman it happened off Suitland Parkway at Forestville Road just before 6 a.m. Friday. The driver remained at the scene.
The victim, who was described as an elderly woman, has not been identified.
Signs are posted on the parkway forbidding pedestrians from walking along the busy stretch of road, but pedestrians in the area say crossing the parkway is the quickest way to reach a nearby bus stop.
"There's no bus stop on this side of the street for people to catch the bus going back to Suitland station, so we got to walk across Suitland Parkway to catch it on the opposite side," said rider Mike Smith.
Smith said he crosses the four lanes of traffic on a regular basis, adding that it cuts his daily commute in half.
"It's ridiculous. It's so unsafe that people put petitions in the complex up there about putting a bus stop up there by the gas station, and it seems like Metro is not doing anything about it," Smith said.
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Police say it is illegal for pedestrians to cross the parkway, but they are aware that people do it anyways.
The westbound lanes of Suitland Parkway at Forestville Road were closed for nearly five hours while police completed their investigation.
Smith said the accident will make him reconsider how and where he catches the bus.
Anyone with information regarding the accident should call the U.S. Park Police Tip Line at 202-610-8739.
