Neighbors Concerned About Roads After Woman's Death in Mission Hill

Jessica Cosman was killed when a car lost control during a snowstorm and struck her

Residents in Boston's Mission Hill neighborhood are raising concerns over treacherous roads conditions after a woman was killed over the weekend.

Jessica Cosman, 22, was walking up Sunset Street on Saturday night in the middle of a snow storm, when a car somehow lost control and struck and killed her.

Area residents say the tragedy could have been avoided if the roads had been treated better during the storm.

"That is not plowed or salted well enough. Because it's so easy to slide down," said neighbor Ann Antonellis. "You could easily loose control just on that little hill."

The road was reportedly snow-packed at the time of the crash.

"What's horrible is now in this world, it takes a death for anything to be done," said one resident who did not want to give her name.

A guardrail is at the bottom of the hill, indicating that the street already poses a problem. It's also protecting any runaway cars from slamming into the house that sits behind it.

NBC Boston reached out to the Department of Public Works to see what could have been done with plowing and salting and they referred us to the Boston mayor's office. The office said they "recognize the challenges the Mission Hill community faces with inclement weather, and as with all neighborhoods, the Public Works Department attempts to surface as much pavement as possible throughout snowstorms."

The mayor's office also said that Public Works records show that Sunset Street and Hillside Avenue were plowed and salted on Saturday between 4:35 p.m. and 4:45 p.m.

"My heart goes out to the family and friends of Jessica Cosman, a young women whose life was tragically taken this weekend. As a community, we mourn the loss of a beloved daughter, friend and colleague, and will keep Jessica's loved ones in our thoughts and prayers," said Boston Mayor Marty Walsh.

"You know when it snows, someone will come in and salt it. But it's a hill so it's going to be tough no matter what — if you're walking or driving," said neighbor Brian Alves.

So far, no charges have been filed against the driver.

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