Edwina Demers is the second Kennedy Manor resident to die this year under similar circumstances

By SANDY McGEE

WOONSOCKET — An elderly woman, who was struck by a vehicle as she crossed Clinton Street on Nov. 14, died Wednesday from multiple traumatic injuries.

Edwina Demers, 85, a resident of Kennedy Manor, died early Wednesday at Rhode Island Hospital. The cause of death was determined to be “multiple traumatic injuries,” said a spokesperson for the state Medical Examiner's Office on Thursday.
Demers had been a patient in the hospital's trauma intensive care unit since Nov. 14, when she was struck by a vehicle while crossing Clinton Street.
According to police, Demers was crossing the heavily traveled, one-way street at about 1 p.m. when she was struck in the left lane by a black SUV, which was slowing down for a red light at Cummings Way.
Clinton Street is a two-lane, one-way artery that runs north. Demers was crossing from the sidewalk on the right hand side in front of a Subway restaurant, less than a block from her residence at Kennedy Manor, a high-rise for senior citizens at 547 Clinton St.
The SUV's operator, Charleene E. Feeney, 51, of 70 Spring St., told police that she had turned onto Clinton from Pond Street just before the accident. She said she was looking for a Sovereign Bank when she heard her husband yell from the passenger seat and noticed the woman step in front of her SUV-style Kia.
Feeney immediately got out of the her vehicle and tried to comfort the elderly victim, according to police. The victim was conscious and speaking when rescue workers put her in the ambulance to take her to the hospital.
While police said that no criminal charges are likely to be filed, the accident remains under investigation.
“We don't anticipate any charges at this time,” said Lt. Kenneth Paulhus of the Woonsocket Police Department. “We haven't made a final determination yet. It's still under investigation.”
Demers is the second Kennedy Manor resident to die this year after being struck by a vehicle in the Social Street area.
In May, a 75 year old woman and resident of Kennedy Manor died after she was struck by an alleged drunken driver while walking across Cummings Way at Social Street.
The driver in that case, Joseph R. Tessier, is currently facing felony charges of driving under the influence (DUI), death resulting.
A memorial Mass for Demers was held Friday at St. Joseph Church, 1210 Mendon Road.
Born in Woonsocket, Demers was the daughter of the late Adelard and Rose (Massicotte) Riendeau.  She was the wife of the late Normand Demers.
She was an employee of AARP, working at various locations, including City Hall and for Dress for Success, a nonprofit organization that provides professional attire and career development to disadvantage women.
Demers also worked as a bookkeeper for the former Miller Electric Co. for many years.
She is survived by a brother, Gerard Riendeau of Norfolk; a sister, Hermine Marchand of Woonsocket; and many nieces and nephews.