Pedestrian Fatally Injured in Rancho Mirage
On Wednesday, January 23, 2013, at 8:00 pm, officers from the Rancho Mirage Police Department responded to a report of a vehicle versus pedestrian traffic collision in the area of Bob Hope Drive and Gerald Ford Drive, Rancho Mirage, CA.
The investigation determined a grey Honda Fit was traveling southbound on Bob Hope Drive when it collided with a male pedestrian, who was walking eastbound in the roadway south of Gerald Ford Drive. The north and southbound lanes of Bob Hope Drive were closed for 1.5 hours, while the collision was investigated.
The pedestrian sustained major injuries and was transported to a local hospital.
Alcohol consumption was not a factor in this collision.
On Thursday, January 24, 2013 at 1:14 am, the pedestrian in this incident succumbed to his injuries at a local hospital. The decedent has been identified as Barry Lind, 74 years old of Rancho Mirage.
Rancho Mirage Traffic Division has assumed the investigation. This investigation is continuing and the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department is asking anyone that may have witnessed this collision to contact the Rancho Mirage Department’s Traffic Division at 760-836-1600.
Cause of the Rancho Mirage Crash
While this devastating Riverside 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 Riverside County wrongful death 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.
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 Twenty-nine 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.
