Spokane, Washington – Man Dies After Getting Struck by Car on South Palouse Highway

Spokane, Washington (November 9, 2019) – A man died from injuries sustained after he was struck by a car on the 4800 block of South Palouse Highway on Saturday evening. The Spokane County Medical Examiner has identified the victim as Gerald G. Schafer, and has determined that the cause of his death was accidental. Schafer was reported to have been taken to a hospital following the incident, but unfortunately died of his injuries.

The incident occurred around 5:40 p.m. The driver of the vehicle stayed on the scene during the preliminary investigation, and it has been determined that she was not impaired at the time of the accident. The incident caused South Palouse Highway to be shut down between South Regal Street and East Thor Street as investigation was ongoing. The roads were reopened around 9 p.m. later in the day.

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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