Accident Involving Possible Drunk Driver Claims Life of Pedestrian
A pedestrian fatality occurred in Sacramento on January 12 after being struck by a GMC pickup. The accident was reported to the California Highway Patrol (CHP) around 6:44 in the evening on eastbound Arden Way just east of Watt Avenue in the Arden-Arcade area. It occurred in front of the Arden Middle School. County officials have identified the decedent as 68-year-old Bruce Bohrer.
Driver Who Struck and Killed Pedestrian May Have Been Intoxicated
The driver of the pickup remained at the scene. However, authorities suspected the driver had been drinking and toxicology was called. The driver, a Carmichael man, age 69, was subsequently placed under arrest for DUI. A chaplain was called to the scene of the accident. Unfortunately, the pedestrian died at the accident site as a result of their injuries and was pronounced deceased by the Sacramento County Coroner. The pickup truck was towed as evidence in the pedestrian fatality.
Pedestrian Fatalities in Sacramento
The number of pedestrian fatalities in Sacramento as elsewhere has grown over the past five years. This is due to the number of walkers and motorists sharing the roadway. While municipalities have taken steps to protect pedestrians, approximately 6,000 pedestrian deaths have been reported nationwide, and the numbers are increasing. Despite these precautions, motorists are often to blame for a walker’s death.
Reasons for a Pedestrian Fatality
There are a variety of reasons that pedestrians are killed. Some of the more common ones are:
- Drunk driving: An intoxicated motorist is unable to judge the distance between them and a pedestrian and is often found to be speeding. This combination is a lethal blow when driving.
- Speeding: Speeding through an intersection or crosswalk is also detrimental to the safety of walkers and can lead to a pedestrian fatality. The impact of a speeding vehicle is much greater than that of one traveling at a lower speed. For instance, a vehicle traveling under 20 mph will usually cause injuries that are not fatal. However, one traveling at 43 mph has a 70-percent risk of a pedestrian fatality.
- Distracted driving: Distracted driving has become one of the leading causes of accidents and fatalities in the country. It takes the driver’s focus off the road and is especially dangerous in an intersection. They may be unaware that the traffic light has changed and pedestrians have been given the go-ahead to cross. This can result in a pedestrian fatality.
Losing a Loved One Due to a Pedestrian Fatality
Pedestrians have little protection from speeding vehicles or distracted drivers, and an accident often results in a fatal outcome. For family members, this tragic outcome can often be overwhelming. They must deal not only with their personal grief over the loss of someone they love, but they are charged with providing for the family. They often seek counsel with clergy and trusted friends, and there are many things that can be done to help them through this trying time:
- Call and let the family know that you share in their grief and are available to help.
- Bring prepared meals or takeout to help them maintain the level of nourishment they need throughout the ordeal.
- Offer to do household tasks that will help ease the burden they face.
- Offer to accompany them to the funeral parlor to decide on end of life arrangements.
- Don’t disappear after the funeral and burial are completed. This may be a time when they need you most of all.
Investigating a Pedestrian Fatality
Our law firm dispatches an investigative team to the scene of the accident to gather evidence that will assist our injury attorneys in building a wrongful death claim. The investigative team speaks to witnesses, obtains videos of the accident, and reviews police and insurance reports for inaccuracies. They also check lighting and signage in an effort to ensure that government agencies have not been negligent.
Sacramento Wrongful Death Lawyer
I am Ed Smith, and I am a Sacramento wrongful death lawyer. Call me at (916) 921-6400 or (800) 404-5400 for free and friendly advice if you’ve lost a loved one under these tragic circumstances. Contact me online if it’s more convenient.
I’ve helped many Sacramentans get deserved compensation not only in wrongful deaths but in car accidents, pedestrian injuries, and other traumas.
Learn about my firm by going to the following pages:
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Photo Attribution: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9-lg0clbRM; https://pixabay.com/photos/candle-light-candlelight-flame-2038736/
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