Tag

An SUV jumped a curb and killed an elderly pedestrian at a bus stop in Fresno. (Photo: ABC News)

Fatal pedestrian accident: An SUV jumped a curb and killed an elderly woman waiting at a bus stop Thursday near Fresno.

•   An elderly pedestrian was standing on a sidewalk near a bus stop when an SUV jumped the curb and struck her.

•   The pedestrian, who suffered severe injuries, was rushed to the hospital, where she died.

•   Police located the driver of the SUV, but did not release any information about him.

The deadly accident – on Shaw Avenue near Pollasky Avenue in Clovis — occurred shortly before 7 a.m., according to an ABC News report.

Clovis Police Sgt. Jim Koch said a sports utility vehicle traveling eastbound on Shaw Avenue jumped the curb for unknown reasons and went up onto the sidewalk near Pollasky Avenue.

The SUV struck 73-year-old Enedina Carrillo, who was standing on the sidewalk near a bus stop.

Carrillo was rushed to Community Regional Medical Center, where she died from the injuries she suffered in the accident, according to a report in the Fresno Bee.

Police did not release the identity of the SUV driver.

Pedestrian Accident Statistics

Every two minutes, a pedestrian is killed by a motor vehicle somewhere in the United States. Every eight minutes, another pedestrian is injured. In 2010, that added up to 4,280 pedestrian deaths and an estimated 70,000 serious pedestrian injuries in traffic crashes across the country, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

Fresno Pedestrian Accident Lawyers

A 9-year-old boy is in critical condition after being hit by an SUV in Stockton.

Pedestrian accident: A 9-year-old boy was critically injured Wednesday when he was hit by a sports utility vehicle while crossing the street in Stockton.

•  A 9-year-old boy was crossing a street to get to a bakery when he was hit by an SUV.

•   The boy was thrown 30 to 50 feet on impact.

•   He suffered major injuries and was airlifted to a trauma center in critical condition.

•   The driver stayed at the scene to talk to police. He was not arrested.

The car accident occurred at about 8 a.m., according to a report in the Stockton Record.

The boy was crossing North California Streetto get to a local bakery when he was hit by a Honda SUV, Stockton Police Officer Joe Silva said.

Umberto Garcia, owner of Panaderia La Yolanda, said the boy came to the store to buy bread and realized he had forgotten his money.

He went home to get the money and was crossing the street on the way back to the store when he was hit. He was not in a crosswalk at the time.

Silva did not say how fast the SUV was traveling, but witnesses said the impact threw the boy 30 to 50 feet.

The boy suffered major injuries and was airlifted by helicopter to UC Davis Medical Center, where he was listed in critical condition.

Officer Silva said the driver of the SUV remained at the scene and cooperated with police. He was not expected to face charges.

Pedestrian Accident Statistics

Every two minutes, a pedestrian is killed by a motor vehicle somewhere in the United States. Every eight minutes, another pedestrian is injured. In 2010, that added up to 4,280 pedestrian deaths and an estimated 70,000 serious pedestrian injuries in traffic crashes across the country, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

The latest NHTSA figures show that:

• Almost 80 percent of pedestrian fatalities did not occur it intersections.
• Almost one-fifth of children aged 5 to 9 killed in traffic crashes were pedestrians.
• More than 7 percent of pedestrian deaths were children age 15 and younger.
• Almost three-quarters (23 percent) of all pedestrians injured in traffic crashes were under age 15.
• Roughly three out of every four (72 percent) pedestrian fatalities occur in urban areas.
• Alcohol is a major factor in 47 percent of pedestrian deaths.

 Stockton Pedestrian Accident Lawyers

The trial attorneys at Blackman Legal Group, a California-based law firm founded by renowned trial attorney Clifford Blackman, have successfully represented pedestrian accident victims and their families for 35 years. The nationwide toll-free number to call for a free consultation is 1-866-692-8126.

A tow truck driver was struck and killed by a drunk driver in Malibu. (Photo: KTLA News)

Fatal pedestrian accident: A tow truck driver who was hooking up a disabled vehicle was struck and killed by a hit-and-run driver Monday night  in Malibu.

•    A tow truck driver was outside of his vehicle, helping a stranded motorist on Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu.

•    A speeding car crashed into the truck, did a barrel roll, and slammed into the tow truck driver in mid-air.

•    The tow truck driver, a father of three, died immediately. 

•    The car fled the scene but crashed into a parked car two miles away. Police arrested the driver, who sustained a critical head injury but was expected to survive.

The deadly hit-and- run accident occurred at 8:45 p.m. on Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) near Pepperdine University, according to a KTLA News report.

Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies told KTLA that the tow truck driver, 45-year-old Ronald Carver of Newbury Park, was outside of his vehicle helping a motorist whose vehicle was stranded on PCH at John Tyler Drive.

A silver Audi, driven by 44-year-old Jill Rose of Venice, came speeding down the narrow highway, hit the ramp of the flatbed tow vehicle truck, and then slammed into Carver, NBC News reported.

“The driver struck the ramp, did a complete barrel roll, then hit the person in mid-air,” Sgt. Philip Brooks, of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, told NBC.

Carver, who was a father of three, died on impact.

Rose continued driving and then crashed into a parked car near the Malibu Pier, two miles away. She sustained a severe brain hemorrhage in the accident, police said. She was arrested at the scene and then rushed to UCLA Medical Center, where she was listed in critical condition. Authorities said she was expected to survive.

Police did not yet know whether drugs or alcohol were involved in the accident; investigators were awaiting results of toxicology tests. Police said Rose has a history of opiate abuse.

If no drugs or alcohol are involved, Rose would face charges of vehicular manslaughter and felony hit-and-run, police said. If she was under the influence, further charges would be added.

Malibu Pedestrian Accident Lawyers

The trial attorneys at Blackman Legal Group, a California-based law firm founded by renowned trial attorney Clifford Blackman, have successfully represented the families of pedestrian accident victims for 35 years. The nationwide toll-free number to call for a free consultation is 1-866-692-8126.

Three pedestrians were killed by a drunk driver in Anaheim.

Fatal pedestrian accident: A mother, daughter, and niece were struck and killed by a drunk driver Sunday night in Anaheim.

•   Three women were crossing the street after a baby shower when they were struck by a drunk driver.

•   All three women were killed in the accident.

•   The driver who hit them was arrested on charges of felony drunk driving and vehicular manslaughter.

The deadly drunk driving accident occurred at about 11 p.m., according to an NBC News report.

Anaheim Police Sgt. Bob Dunn said the three victims — 56-year-old Carmen Mendoza, daughter Sheyla Mendoza, 21, and niece Stephanie Henriquez, also 21 — were walking home from a baby shower when the accident happened.

The women were crossing Western Avenue (at Lincoln Avenue) when they were stuck by a red four-door Honda Civic traveling northbound on Western. His rate of speed was not immediately known.

All three women were killed. Sheyla Mendoza died at the scene, according to a report in the Long Beach Press-Telegram.  The other two victims were taken to UCI Medical Center, where they were pronounced dead.

The driver, 40-year-old Anthony Lewis Sanchez of Buena Park, was arrested charges of felony drunk driving and vehicular manslaughter, Dunn said.

Sanchez and his unidentified female passenger both suffered minor injuries and were taken to area hospitals to be treated. Sanchezs was booked into the Orange County Men’s Intake Release Center with bail set at $500,000. He was scheduled to appear in Central Jail Court on Monday.

Anaheim Pedestrian Accident Lawyers

The trial attorneys at Blackman Legal Group, a California-based law firm founded by renowned trial attorney Clifford Blackman, have successfully represented the families of pedestrian accident victims for 35 years. The nationwide toll-free number to call for a free consultation is 1-866-692-8126.

A driver was arrested a his home after a fatal hit-and-run pedestrian accident near Vacaville.

Fatal hit-and-run accident: A 23-year-old man was arrested Wednesday after he struck and killed a pedestrian on Peabody Road near Fairfield.

•   A pedestrian was struck and killed by a pickup truck on a rural road near Fairfield.

•   The driver fled the scene.

•   Police found out about the dead body several hours later and went to the scene to investigate.

•   Investigators  found debris from the truck with the VIN number on it, and located the vehicle and the hit-and-run driver at his parents’ house in Vacaville.

•   The 23-year-old driver was arrested and jailed on felony hit-and-run charges.

Fairfield police officers were called to the scene of a deadly pedestrian accident in an unincorporated area of Solano County at about 8:34 a.m., according to an article in the Vacaville Reporter.

California Highway Patrol Officer Chris Parker said investigators believe the victim, 28-year-old Moses L. Sala of Fairfield, had been killed several hours before they were called to the scene.

Parker said Sala, who was wearing a backpack, had been walking southbound on Peabody Road just north of Chuck Hammond Drive when he was struck by a southbound 2012 Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck.

The driver of the truck, 23-year-old Alex Perez Jr., also of Fairfield, fled the scene.

CHP investigators found pieces of debris from the damaged truck that contained the truck’s VIN number and were able to trace the vehicle to Perez, Parker said.

Officials later located the truck and Perez at his parents’ home in Vacaville. The truck was seized and Perez was arrested on felony hit-and-run charges, Parker said. He was booked into Solano County Jail.

Fairfield Pedestrian Accident Lawyers

The trial attorneys at Blackman Legal Group, a California-based law firm founded by renowned trial attorney Clifford Blackman, have successfully represented pedestrian accident victims and their families for 35 years. The nationwide toll-free number to call for a free consultation is 1-866-692-8126.

An unlicensed driver faces felony manslaughter charges after striking and killing a wheelchair-bound pedestrian near Visalia.

The Tulare County coroner’s office announced Thursday that it has identified a pedestrian who was struck and killed Tuesday on Highway 63 near Visalia.

•   A pedestrian in a wheelchair attempted to cross a four-lane street/highway at an intersection.

•   An  unlicensed driver in a Jeep SUV didn’t see the man at first and then panicked, hitting the gas pedal instead of the brake.

•   The Jeep slammed into the wheelchair, knocking the man to the ground. He died from his injuries.

The fatal accident occurred at about 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, according to an article in the Fresno Bee.

The California Highway Patrol said a pedestrian in a wheelchair — later identified as 86-year-old Benjamin Laigo of Orosi — was attempting to cross Highway 63 at the intersection with Miller Road at the time of the accident.

CHP Officer Chris Wright told the Visalia Times-Delta that Laigo was in an unmarked crosswalk when he was struck and killed by a 1991 Jeep Cherokee traveling northbound on Highway 63 at about 35 mph.

“He was right at the intersection,” Wright said.

Wright said the driver of the Jeep, 52-year-old Julio Dominguez of Cutler, told officers he didn’t see Laigo in the street  until his 8-year-old grandson shouted, “Watch out!”

Dominguez then panicked and stepped on the accelerator instead of the brake, Wright said. The Jeep slammed into the wheelchair, throwing Laigo onto the road.

The 86-year-old victim was airlifted to Tulare Regional Medical Center (in the city of Tulare), where he died from the injuries he suffered in the accident.

Dominguez was not arrested at the scene, Wright said, but he was visibly distraught.

“He was pretty shaken up about it,” Wright said. “He made a mistake.”

Wright said the CHP would request that the District Attorney’s Office file charges against Dominguez, including misdemeanor manslaughter, driving without a license, and felony failure to yield to a pedestrian.

Visalia Pedestrian Accident Lawyers

The trial attorneys at Blackman Legal Group, a California-based law firm founded by renowned trial attorney Clifford Blackman, have successfully represented pedestrian accident victims and their families for 35 years. The nationwide toll-free number to call for a free consultation is 1-866-692-8126.

A man was struck and killed at a bus stop Thursday in Mountain View. (Video capture: Mountain View Patch)

Fatal pedestrian accident: Investigators have identified a man who was struck and killed by a speeding car while he waited at a bus stop Thursday in Mountain View.

•   A speeding car ran a red light and struck a man waiting in a bus shelter.

•   The car smashed the shelter and drug the victim into the road, then went up onto the lawn of an apartment building.

•   The victim died at the scene. The 21-year-old driver was hospitalized.

•   Police said drugs and alcohol do not appear to be involved.

Mountain View police spokesperson Jaime Garrett said the accident victim was 50-year-old William Ware of Mountain View, according to a report in the San Jose Mercury News.

Garrett said the accident occurred at about 9:30 a.m. at California Street and Escuela Avenue.

Witnesses told the Mountain View Patch news site that a navy-blue Audi A4 appeared to be speeding when it ran a red light at the intersection. The Audi struck Ware — who was standing at the VTA bus stop on the south side of the intersection — and dragged him about 30 or 40 feet.

The impact smashed up the bus shelter, but did not stop the Audi. The car continued up onto the grounds of the Maplewood Apartment Community and came to a stop on the lawn, about 100 feet from the bus shelter.

Ware died at the scene.

The driver of the Audi,  a 21-year-old Mountain View man, was taken to a hospital to be treated for undisclosed injuries, according to an NBC News report. Police said he did not appear to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Community members started a makeshift memorial on the bus bench as soon as word got out. In an article entitled, “Remembering William Ware,” people shared memories and announced details about Ware’s memorial service. He was remembered by bus drivers and people who worked at his favorite Peet’s coffee shop, as well as by neighbors and friends.

Pedestrian Fatality Statistics

More than 4,000 pedestrians are killed every year — 11 every day — after being struck by motor vehicles, according to the latest National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) statistics. An additional 59,000 are seriously injured.

The latest NHTSA figures show that:

• 69 percent of pedestrians killed in 2009 were males.
• Almost three out of every four pedestrian fatalities occur in urban areas (72 percent).
• The top four states for pedestrian fatalities are California, Florida, Texas, and New York. These four states make up 41 percent of pedestrian fatalities nationwide while only accounting for 5 percent of the total traffic fatalities across the country.
• Nearly one-half (48 percent) of all pedestrian fatalities occurred on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday — 70 percent occur at night (4 p.m. to 4 a.m.).

California Pedestrian Accident Lawyers

The trial attorneys at Blackman Legal Group, a California-based law firm founded by renowned trial attorney Clifford Blackman, have successfully represented pedestrian accident victims and their families for 35 years. The nationwide toll-free number to call for a free consultation is 1-866-692-8126.

Maryann Slettehaugh (inset) died after being hit by a skateboarder at this intersection in Santa Cruz.

Fatal pedestrian accident: An 83-year-old woman died Wednesday when she was hit by a skateboarder while she was trying to cross a street in Capitola Village, about 5 miles east of Santa Cruz.

•   An elderly woman was crossing a street when a teen skateboarder came down the steep hill at 20 mph and crashed into her.

•   The woman was knocked unconscious and hit the pavement hard.

•   She was airlifted to a hospital where she later died.

The fatal accident occurred at about 3:10 p.m., according to a report in the San Jose Mercury News.

Maryann Slettehaugh was walking from her home to the beach, as she did every day. She was crossing Cliff Drive in a crosswalk when a 17-year-old boy came barreling down the steep hill on a skateboard. He was traveling 15 to 20 mph, Capitola police Sgt. Andrew Dally said.

The teen — whose identity has not been released by authorities because he is a minor — saw the elderly woman and tried to jump off of his skateboard to avoid hitting her, but he crashed into her anyway.

Slettehaugh, who was about a step away from the sidewalk, was knocked unconscious and hit the street really hard, Dally said. She suffered severe injuries.

The teen immediately stopped and tried to help the woman. He stayed with her until emergency responders arrived.

“It was not a malicious type of act,” Dally told KSBW. “He seemed like a pretty clean-cut and honest kid. But we prohibit skateboarding in Capitola Village for this exact reason.”

Slettehaugh was airlifted to Santa Clara Valley Medical Center in San Jose, where she was treated at the trauma center, KSBW News reported.

She died just before midnight.

Her husband of 64 years, George Slettehaugh, said his wife was leery of skateboards and tried to avoid them because she had been hit by one 15 years ago.

Capitola police Detective Marquis Booth told CNN the teen skateboarder was cited for violating the civil code prohibiting skateboards in the area, but he had not been charged with anything else yet.

The accident is still under investigation.

The trial attorneys at Blackman Legal Group, a California-based law firm founded by renowned trial attorney Clifford Blackman, have been representing pedestrian accident victims and their families for 35 years.  The nationwide toll-free number to call for a free consultation is 1-866-692-8126.