3-year-old boy hit by car outside Greyhound station
A 3-year-old boy was hit by a car Friday night after he ran into the street outside the Greyhound station in downtown Bakersfield, according to his mother and police.
The child, Garrett Myers, was taken to Kern Medical Center with injuries characterized by police as minor to moderate.
The Riverside boy and two brothers, Dustin, 10, and Ethan, 8, came to Bakersfield with their mother to stay with their cousin, said the mom, Angela Myers.
While she was inside the station at 1820 18th St. charging her cell phone, her sons were outside. That’s when Garrett ran into the street, the mother said.
The car ran over Garrett and dragged him for a bit before stopping, said Dustin, who saw the whole accident with his brother Ethan.
“I couldn’t bear to watch him get run over again,” Dustin said through tears. “I’m terrified.”
Angela Myers said Garrett was conscious and talking to her as he was being taken away in the ambulance.
“I’m scared because he was tensing up, and he just kept saying, ‘Mom, mom,'” she said.
Ana Majano was inside the Greyhound station and saw as police lifted the car to get Garrett out from under it. Garrett had scratches on his back and bruises already forming on his nose and eyebrows, Majano said.
Fire trucks, police and an ambulance were at the scene at about 6:45 p.m. Flares had been set out at H and 18th streets.
The driver was not under the influence of alcohol, Bakersfield Police Sgt. Graydon Argast said.
Police were continuing to investigate Friday night.
Cause of the Bakersfield Crash
While this devastating Kern County accident remains under investigation, the family members of those accident victims who were seriously injured would be well-advised to speak with an understanding and knowledgeable Kern County personal injury lawyer. An attorney such as Gary A. Kessler who has successfully handled serious injury accidents can advise the victim’s family of their legal rights to hold the driver accountable and best course of action should they wish to pursue a personal injury claim.
California Pedestrian Law
“Under California Vehicle Code Section 21950 (a) The driver of a vehicle shall yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian crossing the roadway within any marked crosswalk or within any unmarked crosswalk at an intersection, except as otherwise provided in this chapter.
(b) This section does not relieve a pedestrian from the duty of using due care for his or her safety. No pedestrian may suddenly leave a curb or other place of safety and walk or run into the path of a vehicle that is so close as to constitute an immediate hazard. No pedestrian may unnecessarily stop or delay traffic while in a marked or unmarked crosswalk.
(c) The driver of a vehicle approaching a pedestrian within any marked or unmarked crosswalk shall exercise all due care and shall reduce the speed of the vehicle or take any other action relating to the operation of the vehicle as necessary to safeguard the safety of the pedestrian.
(d) Subdivision (b) does not relieve a driver of a vehicle from the duty of exercising due care for the safety of any pedestrian within any marked crosswalk or within any unmarked crosswalk at an intersection.”
Pedestrian Accident Statistics
Source: California Highway Patrol Statewide Integrated Traffic Report
Pedestrians need to be especially cautious on our roadways because they are more vulnerable to injury or death. There were two pedestrians killed and two injured in car accidents in Twentynine Palms in 2009, according to the California Highway Patrol Statewide Integrated Traffic Report. In San Bernardino County 39 pedestrians died and 440 were injured in 2009.
In California, there were 598 pedestrians killed and 12,418 injured in 2009, according to the CHP traffic report.
National data compiled by the National Highway Transportation and Safety Authority shows that pedestrian injuries and fatalities in the United States were up 4.9% in 2010 to 4,280 deaths and injuries were up 19% in 2010 to 70,000 people injured.
