Law enforcement and local government officials said several factors contributed to the two pedestrian deaths on Carter Street last week.

Last Tuesday, Parnell “Joe” Bowman, 54, was trying to cross Carter Street when he was struck and killed by an oncoming vehicle.

Emell Hargrove, 67, died Saturday after being hit while he was pushing his bicycle across the street near Wal-Mart.

Vidalia Police Chief Billy Hammers said Monday citizens should use caution when trying to cross the Vidalia highway.

“It’s tragic that this happened,” Hammers said. “Citizens need to realize that if they are going to cross Carter Street then need to cross by a red light.”

Mayor Hyram Copeland said one factor in the two fatalities was more cars traveling the major highway.

“The problem we’ve got is a tremendous amount of increase in traffic flow,” Copeland said. “All the traffic comes from north Louisiana through Highway 15 and 61 south from Natchez, which means from north Louisiana to south Louisiana, (Vidalia) is a direct route.”

Sheriff Randy Maxwell said both incidents happening in so close a time span was merely coincidental but if he had to attribute the accidents to anything it would be the weather conditions.

“Both times it was raining and dark,” Maxwell said. “When you put those things together it only complicates the situation as it does for all drivers.”

Hammers said he would talk to the Louisiana Department of Transportation engineer to see if it is possible to have crosswalks installed at red lights.

VPD will also hire a new patrolman in February to patrol at night along Carter Street, he said.

Hammers said there was no possibility of the city changing the speed limit.

“If you lower the speed limit on a four-lane highway then you would have congestion and you would still have more wrecks,” he said.