Alcohol suspected as cause of car hitting, killing pedestrian at Fort Avenue and Sunshine

(From the Springfield Police Department)

On September 2 at 1:41 PM, Officers were dispatched to Fort Avenue and Sunshine Street for a serious injury crash involving a pedestrian.

 A black 2002 Nissan Pathfinder, driven by William J. Shelton age 42 of Springfield, was eastbound on Sunshine when it attempted to make a left turn onto northbound Fort. The Pathfinder went wide and struck the Traffic Island on the northeast corner of the intersection.

 A pedestrian, James D Atkinson age 55 of Norman, Oklahoma, was standing on the Traffic Island, waiting to cross Sunshine. The Pathfinder struck Atkinson and pinned him against the traffic signal pole. Shelton was not injured in the accident. 

Atkinson was transported to the hospital for life-threatening injuries. He was listed in critical but stable condition. Next of kin has been notified. 

 The investigation is ongoing, and alcohol was a possible contributing circumstance.