Massachusetts

Officials Identify Pedestrian Killed in Somerville Hit-and-Run as Watertown Teacher

Allison Donovan, 40, of Somerville, was struck and killed while walking in a crosswalk Friday night

The woman worked in the Watertown Public Schools system.

What to Know

  • 40-year-old Allison Donovan was struck and killed Friday night while walking in a Somerville crosswalk with another woman.
  • Donovan was a teacher for Watertown Public Schools and was "loved by students and staff."
  • Police are looking for the pickup truck involved in the fatal crash.

The woman killed Friday evening in a pedestrian hit-and-run crash in Somerville has been identified as a Massachusetts teacher.

Allison Donovan, 40, of Somerville, was struck and killed while walking in a crosswalk with another woman, according to the Middlesex County District Attorney's Office.

Police responded around 7:15 p.m. Friday to the intersection of Powderhouse Boulevard and Hardan Road where they say someone in a pickup truck hit two women who were using the crosswalk. 

The victims were taken to Mount Auburn Hospital where Donovan was pronounced dead. The other woman was treated for non-life-threatening injuries and released from the hospital.

Donovan was a "long time educator and administrator in the Watertown Public Schools," according to a statement from the city's school department.

Two parents who knew Donovan tell NBC10 Boston that she was a wonderful teacher who brought joy to her students.

The school echoed that in their statement, saying, "It is with great sadness that we learned of the unexpected death of Allison Donovan...who was loved by students and staff. She brought invaluable knowledge, insights, compassion, and dedication to the district and was passionate about providing students with the best education possible. She will be greatly missed and our thoughts and prayers go out to her family and friends at this most difficult time."

The Watertown School Department says they have a well-developed protocol that will be followed to support staff and students in the wake of Donovan's death.

A memorial started growing Saturday afternoon at the scene of the fatal crash. Alise Gobron and her daughter Amber placed balloons and flowers, saying it's a really sad situation. 

"There's stories about her cartwheeling down the halls when the kids won a prize by reaching a school goal," said Rebecca Fuentes, a coworker of Donovan's.

Meanwhile, Somerville police are looking for a newer model, full-size, black pickup truck with front-end damage to the driver's side. The vehicle has a black cover over the bed of the truck and is possibly a Ford F-150.

George Letorney, who lives just feet from the crosswalk where the crash happened, didn't see the driver but did see all of the emergency lights.

"To go ahead and drive away, I can't fathom that," he said.

Anyone with information is asked to call police at 617-625-1600, ext. 7250.

The crash is being investigated by the Middlesex District Attorney's Office and the Somerville Police Department.

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