San Bernardino man in wheelchair dies after being hit by car
San Bernardino Police Department officers responded to a 911 call at 8:10 p.m. for an auto versus a pedestrian in a wheelchair at the intersection of Golden Avenue and Date Street, in the city of San Bernardino. Officers arrived on scene and found a 55 year old Black male with trauma to the head and upper body. Paramedics transported him to Loma Linda University Medical Center where he was later pronounced dead at 8:51 PM. An autopsy will be conducted to determine the cause of death. The name of the decedent will be released once next of kin has been notified. The San Bernardino Police Department is investigating the incident.
Cause of the San Bernardino Crash
This remains an ongoing investigation by the California Highway Patrol. While this devastating San Bernardino County accident remains under investigation, the family members of the accident victim who was fatally injured would be well-advised to speak with an understanding and knowledgeable personal injury lawyer. An attorney such as Gary A. Kessler who has successfully handled personal 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 wrongful death claim.
Right of Way
- Pedestrians always have the right of way. So, no matter where you encounter a pedestrian on the road, they always have the right of way. This includes crosswalks, round-a-bouts, at intersections not marked with signals and at street corners. Crosswalks are sometimes defined by white lines or flashing lights. Crosswalks are outlined in yellow near schools.
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. 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.
Most Dangerous Metro Areas
- Orlando-Kissimmee, FL
- Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
- Jacksonville, FL
- Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach, FL
- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA
- Las Vegas-Paradise, NV
- Memphis, TN-MS-AR
- Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ
- Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown, TX
- Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX
