Auburn, Washington – One Man Killed, One Woman Injured After Getting Struck by Pickup Truck While Crossing the Street
Request Free ConsultationAuburn, Washington (August 3, 2019) – One man was killed and a woman seriously injured after getting struck by a pickup truck on Auburn Way South on early Saturday morning. The man died on the scene, while the woman was taken to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. Her current condition has not been given. The truck driver was uninjured in the accident and stayed on the scene to cooperate with the police.
The accident happened shortly before 1 a.m. near Muckleshoot Casino. The couple were heading for the casino and were walking on the crosswalk at the time of the accident. However, they crossed the street even though the light was green for northbound traffic. One car was reported to have stopped for the couple, however, the pickup truck from the outside lanes did not see them and struck both victims. The driver gave a statement and passed sobriety tests, and was released without a citation.
About Pedestrian Accidents
We offer our sympathies and compassion to 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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