BLOOMINGTON, IN – The community is mourning the loss of Dorothy Kent, a 76-year-old Bloomington resident who tragically lost her life Tuesday afternoon after being struck by a vehicle while crossing the street at a busy local intersection.
The incident occurred around 4:05 p.m. on August 5 at the intersection of West Third Street and South Liberty Drive, according to the Bloomington Police Department. When officers arrived at the scene, members of the Bloomington Fire Department were already working to free Kent from beneath a 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee.
Kent was quickly transported to a nearby hospital by ambulance but was sadly pronounced dead at 4:53 p.m. in the emergency room.
Police identified the driver of the Jeep as a 77-year-old woman, also from Bloomington. She told investigators she was traveling northbound on Liberty Drive and was making a left turn west onto Third Street as the traffic light turned yellow. Believing the intersection to be clear, she proceeded with the turn.
The driver stated that she did not see the pedestrian but felt her vehicle make contact with something during the turn. She remained at the scene and fully cooperated with officers. Authorities noted that she showed no signs of impairment at the time of the crash.
Witnesses reported that Dorothy Kent was crossing Third Street heading north on the west side of the intersection when the Jeep turned and struck her in the westbound lanes.
Monroe County Coroner Jeff Hall confirmed Kent’s identity and noted that an autopsy has been scheduled to determine the exact cause of death.
The investigation remains ongoing, with officers continuing to interview witnesses and checking with nearby businesses in an effort to obtain surveillance footage of the incident.
Dorothy Kent is remembered by friends and family as a warm, gentle soul who brought kindness and light into the lives of those around her. Her untimely passing has left the community grieving, and calls for increased pedestrian safety in the area are already beginning to surface.
May she rest in peace.
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