Wareham Police have identified the local homeless woman who was struck and killed by a car in East Wareham just after 8:30 p.m. Wednesday night as Annmarie Rita.

Wareham Police, EMS, and the Onset Fire Department responded to the scene where a body lay in the road covered by a tarp, and a car nearby sat with a badly damaged windshield.

A statement issued by the Wareham Police Department said that Rita was struck by a 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee driven by 22-year-old Eric Crowley of Wareham.

A group of people, many of whom live nearby, gathered outside and as they watched the scene spoke about a woman many of them had come to know to some extent.

Donna Russell, who lives nearby, says she was on her computer when she heard a loud noise and went outside.

"I just saw her this morning, she was sitting there [near McDonalds] having her coffee," said Russell. "They need to put some lights down here and slow the traffic down."

Wareham resident Rita Turner said she saw Rita walking on Cranberry Highway often.

"I'd give her money for coffee and a hamburger," said Turner.

A man who identified himself as Keith said he would often talk to Rita.

"She was quirky. She had her moments," said Keith. "I've sat with her for awhile, had a smoke with her. When you got past the rambling she was very bright."

Another resident who lives nearby, Elizabeth Harlow, said she knew Rita as well.

"She was a real sweet woman," said Harlow. "We lost someone people cared about. … She left an impact on all of us and it was a nice impact."

Frank Ferris, who owns the nearby Silver Lake Mobile Home Park, said he came outside to find her in the road after he heard a loud noise.

"There should really be crosswalks or lights here because people live on this side of the road. … All the shopping is on the other side."

Ferris said he sees many people crossing the road often, including "a lot of young kids."

Wareham Week profiled Rita's 2011 efforts to brighten up Wareham around Christmas time, with wreaths she made and hung from the Glen Charlie Road bridge. (Click the link below for that story!)

The story also details Rita's past, her struggles with being "out," her word for being outside, and her desire to be "in" that Christmas.

The Wareham Police Department and the Massachusetts State Police are investigating the accident.

This is the second pedestrian fatality on Cranberry Highway in as many months. On April 26, 59-year-old Wareham resident Barry Russell was struck and killed by a vehicle near 2816 Cranberry Highway in Wareham.