On April 23rd, 2016, a toddler, 2 year old Isabella Wu, was hit and killed by a private ambulance outside Tufts Medical Center on Nassau Street, a street that separates the medical center and a residential building.
The Vision Zero Task Force visited the crash location on May 3rd to make recommendations for any short and long term changes to the area that could improve safety.
Date of Crash
4/23/2016, approx. 1PM
Date of Site Visit
5/3/2016
Location
2 Nassau Street, Boston
News coverage
UniversalHub - "Toddler struck and killed by private ambulance near Tufts Medical Center"
Boston Globe - "'Heartbroken' family identifies toddler killed by ambulance"
Present at Site Visit
Boston Transportation Department - Planning
Boston Police Department
Boston Public Health Commission
WalkBoston
Site audit on Nassau by @TuftsMedicalCtr w/ #VisionZeroBOS task force. 2yr old Isabella Wu was struck/killed 4/23 pic.twitter.com/FanRRFvq6L
— WalkBoston (@WalkBoston) May 3, 2016
Photos from Site Visit 
Recommendations
Short term:
- Expand width of curbside parking outside apartment building by installing either flex posts or curbs that would enable safe access to driver side of vehicle. Would require removal of 4 - 5 metered parking spaces across the street in order to provide adequate width for travel lane. Nassau Street at pull in parking area is about 25 feet. Could assign 11-12 feet for curbside parking and 13-14 feet for travel lane.
Longer term:
- Install speed table to reduce speed of moving vehicles
- Mount mirrors or sensors on ambulance so they can see what is low to the ground in front of them like a small child, similar to what is being proposed for Duck Boats.
Improvements Completed
As of 6/14/16, no changes have been made. Please send us photos/comments when you see changes so this page remains accurate.