Another pedestrian struck in poorly lit part of Middle Road; victim stable

Another pedestrian has been struck on a poorly lit roadway on Saipan, renewing concerns about nighttime visibility and road safety after a woman suffered multiple injuries in a collision along Chalan Pale Arnold Road in the Chinatown area.

Despite sustaining several broken ribs and a fractured right leg, the victim's vital signs were reported as stable following the incident and she was transported to the Commonwealth Health Center for further evaluation.

According to the Department of Public Safety, officers responded at approximately 9:34pm on June 2 to reports of an auto-pedestrian collision near the former Taro Sue building.

Upon arrival, officers found an adult female lying on the roadway with visible injuries. Emergency medical personnel treated the victim at the scene before transporting her to CHCC.

The vehicle involved initially left the scene.

DPS said the driver voluntarily contacted authorities the following day and was interviewed by investigators on June 3. The driver told police he was traveling northbound on Chalan Pale Arnold Road when he felt an impact but was unsure what he had struck.

According to investigators, the driver said the area was dark and that he panicked before leaving the scene.

Last June 4, investigators interviewed the victim, who said she had been attempting to cross the roadway from the area of the roundhouse when she was struck. She told investigators the collision occurred in a poorly lit section of the road.

The DPS Traffic Investigation Unit is continuing its investigation.

Authorities are asking anyone who witnessed the collision or has information related to the incident to contact DPS Highway Patrol at (670) 664-9085.

DPS also reminded motorists and pedestrians to exercise caution during nighttime hours, particularly in areas with limited lighting. The department encouraged pedestrians to use designated crosswalks whenever possible and wear visible or reflective clothing when walking near roadways after dark.