A woman in her 70s was walking to her job at a day care center in Rockville, Maryland, Wednesday morning when an SUV struck and killed her.
The woman, who friends identified as Chandra Perera, was trying to cross McAuliffe Drive when a Chevrolet Suburban going eastbound struck her, Montgomery County police said.
Medics took her to a hospital, where she died a short time later.
Perera is the 11th pedestrian to die in Montgomery County this year.
"She's helping with the kids all of the time. The kids love her. She’s a pretty good lady," said Palitha Wanigasinha, the owner of the day care center where Perera worked.
She died the same day Montgomery County police and fire officials launched a pedestrian campaign.
"Drivers want to see people, but the lighting isn't always accommodating," Capt. Thomas Didone said.
Local
Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia local news, events and information
Didone was handing out glow sticks and flashing lights to people on Wednesday.
Police identified the driver of the Suburban as 54-year-old Sylvia McNickle of Rockville.
