Reversing Jeep hits, kills pedestrian

A 47-year-old woman crossing Newbury Street was hit and killed yesterday by a Jeep Cherokee being driven in reverse, police and witnesses said.

Paramedics took the victim, whom police did not identify, to Massachusetts General Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

Police also declined to release the name of the woman who was driving the Jeep, which was towed from in front of the Taj Boston hotel near Arlington Street.

Police said they were investigating the accident, which occurred about 11:30 a.m., and had not decided whether to file charges. The driver of the Jeep was taken to New England Medical Center.

Leslie Kwan, a clerk who works at the Chanel boutique in the Taj, said she saw the victim unconscious on the street next to a Hermes bag that had fallen out of her hand.

Kwan said the Jeep's driver was hysterical after hitting the woman.

"She was on her phone, crying," Kwan said. "She was really, really upset."

The managers of the hotel's café, which had a prime view of the commotion, drew their blinds to keep the scene out of sight, Kwan said.