Macon has long grappled with a high rate of pedestrian deaths. That was highlighted again this past week when a 48-year-old woman was struck trying to cross a busy intersection at Broadway and Houston avenues in Macon. 48-year-old Martha Ard and her son were trying to cross this busy street. She was hit after stepping off a crosswalk by a car driven by 95-year-old David Grant.

You may recall that student journalists from Mercer's Center for Collaborative Journalism have decided to look into the issue of pedestrian deaths in Macon. These student journalists will be working with the Telegraph and GPB Macon to tell those stories.

The effort began with a forum on pedestrian deaths held earlier this month at the Centenary Church near the Mercer University campus. People who were hit by a car or knew someone who was killed in a pedestrian accident spoke at the forum.

Others came to talk about how to improve pedestrian safety including those involved in public health and even a woman who teaches defensive driving.

Tags: Macon, pedestrian deaths, pedestrian safety, public safety, roads, transportation