Murphysboro woman struck, killed during street crossing

Murphysboro woman struck, killed during street crossing

By Eli Mileur

A woman was struck and killed by a vehicle while crossing a Murphysboro street Friday.

Viola Ganer, 57, of Murphysboro, was hit by a vehicle in the 600 block of Bridge Street at about 7:40 p.m, according to a police press release. The driver was found and identified, but the identity is being withheld pending the investigation, according to the release.

Ganer was found lying in the street when paramedics arrived and had already died by the time treatment began, the release said.

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As community members watched police and paramedics work in the taped-off scene of the crash, Ganer’s shoes and wig lay nearly a block from her body.

A witness who requested not to be identified said Ganer had just left her house about 30 minutes before the crash.

She said the vehicle was a black truck, and had to have been going at least 5o mph when it hit Ganer.

“The truck just hit her like it was nothing,” she said.

She said vehicles frequently drive through the area going well over the 30 mph speed limit.

Kevin Campbell, of Carbondale, said he knew Ganer well. He said Ganer was well-known and well-liked in the neighborhood.

He said the neighborhood is in a state of grief.

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“It’s just very unfortunate,” he said.

He said he can remember several traffic accidents in the area during the years, but nothing fatal. He said there’s a playground near where the accident happened, and any measure to try to prevent a similar accident should

be looked into.

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