Vancouver, Washington – Two Pedestrians Killed After Getting Struck by Vehicle

Vancouver, Washington  (January 21, 2020) – Two pedestrians were killed in an early morning collision in the area of Northeast 112th Avenue and Northeast 23rd Street on Tuesday. According to the report from KPTV.com, one victim appears to be between the ages of 10-14, while the other was an older teen. The names of both victims have not yet been released. The driver of the vehicle was not reported to be injured in the incident and stayed on the scene to cooperate with police investigation.

The incident occurred before 6:30 a.m. The circumstances of the crash has not yet been reported. Police have stated that driver impairment is not believed to be a factor in the incident. The incident caused Northeast 112th Avenue to be closed for several hours.

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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