Seattle, Washington – Two People Dead, Two Others Injured in Hit-and-Run Collision

Seattle, Washington (November 29, 2019)  – Two pedestrians died and two others were injured after a car struck them on the 4000 block of Aurora Avenue North on Friday afternoon. One of the victims died on the scene, with one of the victims dying later dying in the hospital. The other two patients were also taken to a hospital, with one person already released. The condition of the hospitalized victim has not yet been mentioned, and none of the victims’ identities have yet been released. The driver appears to be uninjured and tried to flee the scene, but was stopped by a witness and arrested by police.

Crews were called onto the scene around 1:15 p.m. According to witness reports, the driver attempted to turn onto North 39th Street while driving at high speeds and lost control, causing the vehicle to strike a street sign and utility poles. The vehicle then struck the four victims, who were walking on the sidewalk. The crash caused Aurora Avenue North to be closed until 7 p.m. with crews from Seattle City Light staying on the scene to replace the poles. A recent report indicates that the driver might have been under the influence during the accident, but it is yet to be fully determined. The driver has been booked into King County Jail for two counts of vehicular homicide, vehicular assault and felony hit-and-run.

About Pedestrian Accidents

We offer our sympathies and compassion for the friends and loved ones of the victims. 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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