Seattle, Washington – Pedestrian Dies from Injuries Sustained in Collision

Seattle, Washington (April 16, 2020) – Updated: The pedestrian who was injured from getting struck by a car at the intersection of Rainier Avenue South and Martin Luther King Jr. Way South on Thursday night has died. According to the updated article from KOMO News, the victim, a 51 year-old man, was taken to Harborview Medical Center, and later died from his injuries. The driver stayed at the scene and was not reported to be injured.

According to the report, the victim went out on his wheelchair into the crosswalk, despite the red pedestrian light. He was then struck by the northbound van. The driver stayed on the scene to cooperate with police investigation. The driver was also evaluated but found to not be impaired. The incident remains under investigation. The crash caused the roadway to be closed.

About Pedestrian Accidents

We offer our sympathies and compassion for the friends and loved ones of the victim.Unfortunately, as shown in this case, pedestrians are at also risk while on the streets, with the National Center for Health Statistics estimating 7, 450  pedestrian deaths in 2017. Pedestrian accidents can fall under traffic or non-traffic depending on the location where they were struck. Traffic incidents happen on public roads, while non-traffic incidents occur on non-traffic areas such as driveways, parking lots and other private property. Most pedestrian deaths occur in urban settings, on urban roads (72%) versus on intersections (18%), and mostly at night. Much like motorcycle accidents, pedestrian accidents can happen simply because people are not as visible as other vehicles, a problem which is worse during night. And in an event of a car crash, similar to motorcycle drivers and passengers, the risk to pedestrians are greater than those inside a car, with fatality rate being 1.5 times greater than any car passenger.When it comes to risk, older adults, children, and alcohol-impaired drivers or pedestrians are at most risk in pedestrian accidents. The risk is further heightened in a situation where a vehicle is at high speed. Lately, distractions also cause accidents not only for drivers, but also pedestrians, specifically those who are using their phones while crossing the road. We urge everyone to exercise area awareness at all times and to keep their attention on the road. Avoiding accidents not only prevents loss, damage, injuries and death to one’s self, but also on other people in the surroundings.

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