Elderly Pedestrian Killed on Bryan Point Road, Investigation Underway
Walter Puma, 79, of Accokeek, was struck while walking on Bryan Point Road near Biddle Lane on November 26 and later died at a hospital. The Prince George's County Police are investigating and have asked residents to contact county detectives or Crime Solvers with any information, a request that underscores ongoing concerns about pedestrian safety on suburban roadways.
A fatal collision on Bryan Point Road in Accokeek left a 79 year old local resident dead after he was struck while walking in the roadway on November 26. Emergency responders transported the victim, identified as Walter Puma of Accokeek, to a hospital where he later died. The driver involved remained at the scene and was not injured. The Prince George's County Police continue to investigate the circumstances of the crash and are seeking public assistance.
Investigators have described the matter as active, and authorities urged anyone with information to contact Prince George's County detectives or Crime Solvers with tips. The preliminary facts released to the public identify the location as Bryan Point Road near Biddle Lane and provide the basic timeline of response and medical transport. Beyond those details the investigation is ongoing and prosecutors and detectives have not released further findings.
The incident raises persistent questions about pedestrian safety in Prince George's County, particularly on arterial and rural roads where sidewalks and crosswalks are limited. Local residents and transportation planners have long debated tradeoffs between vehicle capacity and pedestrian infrastructure. Crashes that result in fatalities bring those policy choices into focus, as funding allocations, enforcement priorities, and engineering solutions determine whether streets are safe for people who walk, especially older residents.
Institutionally, responsibility for preventing similar tragedies crosses multiple county entities. Police handle enforcement and crash investigation, while county transportation and public works agencies plan and build infrastructure. County elected officials set budgets and policy priorities that govern those agencies and influence what safety measures are implemented. Voters and community members can press for changes through direct contact with their council representatives, participation in public meetings, and by sharing information with investigators when requested.
For now investigators are piecing together the circumstances of the crash as they seek additional leads. Anyone with information about the collision on Bryan Point Road on November 26 is encouraged to contact Prince George's County detectives or Crime Solvers to assist the ongoing inquiry.
