Cedar Rapids City Council member Ann Poe recovering at home after being hit by car

CEDAR RAPIDS — Cedar Rapids City Council member Ann Poe said she was hit by a motor vehicle Friday afternoon while using the crosswalk at an intersection in Czech Village and is now recovering at home.

Poe, program manager for The District: Czech Village & New Bohemia, said she was crossing C Street SW walking toward Cafe St. Pio when the accident occurred around 3:20 p.m. Friday. While she was in the crosswalk, Poe said, the car was turning left from 16th Avenue SW onto C Street SW and struck her on the left side, throwing her several feet.

Poe said she was picking up cups from businesses following the Thursday “Tiki Tour,” an annual island-themed event The District organizes to encourage people to visit local shops and restaurants in the two historic neighborhoods.

“It was an unfortunate accident,” said Poe, 71. “I feel very grateful that it wasn't worse than it was. I'm kind of banged up and bruised, but nothing is broken … It’s an intersection that we've got to take a look at and get people to slow down and paying attention to who’s in the crosswalks down there so that someone doesn’t get killed.”

Cedar Rapids police confirmed the accident and said the driver of the car has been cited, but could not yet make records from the incident available Monday afternoon.

Emergency personnel transported Poe to UnityPoint St. Luke’s for treatment after the accident, she said. Poe said she was discharged about four hours later, by approximately 7:30 p.m. She is planning to go to physical therapy for her left knee and is using crutches. She said she has sore ribs and a sore shoulder.

Multiple onlookers stopped and helped Poe get from the hot asphalt onto grass, she said. She thanked the Cedar Rapids police and other first responders who arrived quickly to the scene.

“People of Cedar Rapids are just so wonderful,” Poe said. “Everybody stopped to help and call 911 right away.”

Poe is in her third year as mayor pro tem under Mayor Tiffany O’Donnell and chairs the council’s Development Committee. She also is a member of the council Finance and Administrative Services Committee. Poe was reelected to a four-year term in November.

She is now resting at home. Poe said she hopes to be at the 4 p.m. June 25 council meeting and will “try to follow through” with other commitments.

“I feel blessed,” Poe said.

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