DUI, other charges in OC crash that killed pedestrian

A Waldorf, Maryland, man faces several charges after he fatally struck a pedestrian with his vehicle early Sunday morning, police said.

The driver of the vehicle, Stanley J. Faison, 50, was arrested and has been charged with driving under the influence of alcohol and multiple other traffic-related charges, Ocean City police said.

Police said the pedestrian, James R. Ednie, 23, of Kelton, Pennsylvania, was crossing Coastal Highway from west to east near its intersection with 45th Street.

Faison's vehicle was traveling northbound on Coastal Highway at the time of the collision, police said. The pedestrian was not using a crosswalk.

Police said lifesaving efforts were initiated by good Samaritans at the scene and continued by police and Ocean City emergency personnel. However, Ednie was transported to Atlantic General Hospital where he was pronounced dead, police said.

Faison is currently being held at the Ocean City Public Safety Building pending an initial appearance before a Maryland District Court Commissioner.

Last year was the deadliest year for pedestrians in the United States since 1996, according to a report by the Governor’s Highway Safety Association, which collects and analyzes data from state highway safety offices.

Preliminary data show that 5,997 pedestrians were killed in traffic accidents, an 11 percent increase from 2015, the report says.

The increase is part of a longer-term upward trend: Pedestrian fatalities increased 12 percent between 2006 and 2015 from 4,795 to 5,376, even while the total number of traffic fatalities decreased by 18 percent from 42,708 to 35,092 during that period. Pedestrians now account for 15 percent of all traffic fatalities.   

“Survivability is greatly improved in cars but the human body has not changed, so humans are as susceptible as before,” said GHSA spokeswoman Kara Macek. 

While the pedestrian deaths have increased nationally, Ocean City's overall numbers have been low.

BACKGROUND: How safe is Ocean City for pedestrians?

Pedestrian safety has been one of the main focuses for Ocean City officials since the 1990s.

According to the annual report by Ocean City police released in February, the resort has only had three pedestrian fatalities from 2011 through 2016, with two recorded in 2012 and one last year. The three deaths were out of 155 pedestrian collisions in that same time period.

Town officials continue to push their "Walk Smart" campaign to raise awareness about pedestrian safety. They also have approved the installation of median fencing in the most heavily traveled area of Coastal Highway.

Capital News Service contributed to this report.