Cat Hit on River Street; Driver Did Not Stop

At around 1:45 today, January 28th, I came across a very large cat who appeared to be trying to get up out of the road, but could not, on River Street, in front of some of the apartments in the 260 range. Upon coming closer, walking towards the animal on the side of the road going towards Newton Street, the animal was fatally hit by some sort of vehicle on that side of the road. There was a lot of blood.

It was a Maine Coon size, longhaired black and white, with some wiry hair on the underbelly. Its eyes were green, but the color was fading fast from them as it fought for its life.

Another man in a truck, stated he came across the cat lying there in the road, and was staying with the cat until someone came along. He was waving drivers around the scene of the accident. This man did not hit the cat because it was on the opposite side of the street. The man was trying to further prevent the cat from being hit again, as at the time, the cat was still breathing and attempting to get up. Blood was spurting everywhere from every possible opening of this cat's body.

After I called the Waltham Police, they told me Animal Rescue would be there shortly. The officer told me to not move or touch the animal. Meanwhile, the man in the truck then drove off after another neighbor came outside and felt the pulse of the cat. She stated there was not a pulse.  The cat took its last breath and died right there in the street. Blood was absolutely all over the cat's body. 

Due to the cat blocking so much traffic down by Newton Street, the neighbor had to move it out of the way and rested it in a cardboard box on the sidewalk. People were afraid to hit it again, because most people have compassion and do not want to further injure an animal.

When Animal Rescue came, the officer took the cat away and will be scanning it for a microchip to see if it belongs to anyone.

Even though it is just an animal, the driver still should have stopped when they felt something hit their car. So many people do not stop when they hit an animal or a human being, because they are thinking of only themselves and not trying to do the right thing, by taking responsibility. They make up all sorts of excuses when they are caught, like they thought it was "just a squirrel," or "a cardboard box," and do not stop and check if they hit something living. It is the reason why we passed drunk driving laws, and laws against texting while driving. It is the reason why we need our drivers on the road to be aware at all times.

It is always best to check if you hit something, in case it is an animal, or a person. That person is someone's family member, friend, lover. That animal could be part of wildlife, or it could be someone's pet.

I ask if you have any information on this accident to turn it over to the police.