Massachusetts

Woman Struck by Truck In Harvard Square Dies

A woman has died after being struck by a truck Tuesday morning in Cambridge's Harvard Square.

Sharon Hamer, 67, of Cambridge, was hit by a boom truck while crossing the street sometime before 6:53 a.m. near Out of Town News in the heart of the bustling student enclave, the office of Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan said. 

According to a preliminary investigation, the woman was not in the crosswalk, Ryan said in a statement. 

Hamer was taken to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries and later died.

Leyla Yildiz said she was walking to work nearby just after the crash happened.

"It's a horrible thing to have happen," she said. "I cannot imagine anyone going so fast through the intersection that you know, there would have been a collision."

The operator of the boom truck remained on scene and spoke with investigators.

Police spent much of Tuesday afternoon testing the truck and trying to reconstruct what may have happened.

Long-time residents say heavy congestion from vehicles and buses is common in the area but the crash is not something they typically see.

"It's jaw dropping. And I feel for the family, I really do," one resident said.

Bus routes 66 and 86 were temporarily detoured because of the crash, according to the MBTA.

Cambridge Public School District students were advised to go to their bus stop at their usual time.

The incident remains under investigation. So far, no charges have been filed.

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