A popular traffic officer who works one of the busiest intersections in Georgetown was struck by a sport-utility vehicle yesterday and rushed to George Washington University Hospital in critical condition, a D.C. police spokesman said.
The officer was identified by friends as Joseph Pozell, 59, a reserve officer who manages the Oak Hill Cemetery and lives on the grounds with his wife, Ella.
Pozell was directing traffic about 4 p.m. when a 19-year old Virginia woman driving a Honda CR-V ran into him, Sgt. Joe Gentile said. Police are investigating; Gentile said the woman "faces charges in connection with the incident." She has not been identified.
Michael Palermo, manager of the Papa-Razzi restaurant and bar, said he saw the accident. Palermo was walking to Georgetown Tobacco to buy cigarettes when he stopped at a crosswalk at M Street and Wisconsin Avenue. A gray Honda sped up Wisconsin to make a left on M Street, he said.
Pozell, standing on M Street and facing pedestrians in front of the Banana Republic clothing store, "had blown the whistle" and turned as he always did -- on one foot, like a dancer -- so he could see traffic coming from the other direction, Palermo said.
"I saw fear in his eyes. . . . The impact was unbelievable," Palermo said. "The woman hit him head-on. . . . I don't know how she missed seeing him. He was standing in the middle of the street."
After Pozell was struck, Palermo said, the young woman began screaming and crying. He said he rushed to get someone to call the police and then went to Pozell's side. "I said, 'Joe, Joe,' and there was no response," Palermo said.
Pozell is well-known in Georgetown. He has lived in the neighborhood for 34 years and has been an unpaid reserve officer for the police department for three years.
He began helping pedestrians and motorists navigate the traffic-choked intersection in Georgetown nearly 18 months ago. In November, he said he began directing traffic because it was "a good way to do something for the community."
John Gill, president of Oak Hill Cemetery, said Pozell has been the cemetery's superintendent for 20 years and celebrated his birthday last week.
"Everybody in Georgetown knows him," said Robert Novel, owner of O Salon, where Pozell got his hair cut on his birthday.
Novel said motorists drive too fast along M Street, Wisconsin Avenue and the narrow side streets in Georgetown, which usually are clogged.
Yesterday was no different. After the accident, many blocks on M Street leading into Georgetown were cordoned off with yellow police tape. Cars, trolleys and trucks were forced to travel slowly along K Street, which was gridlocked.
Novel and Palermo stood in front of Papa-Razzi, just feet away from Pozell's blue Chevrolet Blazer, talking about how cars normally whiz by.
"Speeding in Georgetown is unbelievable," Novel said. "This whole intersection is definitely an accident waiting to happen."
"It happened today," Palermo said, lowering his head.
