Fatal Pedestrian Crash Near Nut Tree Parkway
In the early morning hours of Friday, July 23, 2021, a fatal pedestrian accident occurred in the vicinity of the Nut Tree Parkway onramp of eastbound Interstate 80. A call came into the California Highway Patrol shortly after 3:00 a.m. reporting a collision. When CHP officers arrived at the scene at 3:18 a.m., they located an unconscious man in an eastbound lane of Interstate 80 west of Nut Tree Road. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
The motorist that struck the pedestrian had remained at the scene. The vehicle that struck the man was a 2001 Acura. The impact from the collision also caused major injuries to the Acura driver, according to officials with the CHP.
Highway 80 Closed for Crash Investigation
Traffic on Interstate 80 was diverted onto Peabody Road for nearly two hours following the incident. The closure caused traffic on the highway to be backed up for miles.
Solano CHP Continues Their Investigation
The investigation into the cause of this fatal pedestrian incident remains open. Anyone with additional information regarding the crash is asked to contact the Solano office of the CHP at 707-428-2100.
Walking on a Highway is Dangerous and Often Illegal
According to the CHP, the pedestrian who was struck and killed had been walking on eastbound I-80. The problem of pedestrians walking on freeways and highways is increasing, and law enforcement is having to find ways to handle the issue. It is believed that the issue of pedestrians walking on highways has increased because homelessness has increased, and getting places on foot via the highway is often faster, yet far more dangerous, than using surface streets.
It is not known whether the deceased man involved in this Vacaville pedestrian crash was homeless.
The CHP in some cities in California has developed a special pedestrian enforcement unit to try to prevent people from walking on the highways. The only situation under which it is lawful to walk on the highway is if you walk toward the nearest exit when leaving a disabled vehicle. There are traffic calming methods to protect pedestrians along certain stretches of highways, which include concrete barriers and fencing that separates the shoulder from vehicle traffic.
Watch the YouTube video. Below is a news clip from Bakersfield reporting on a CHP Pedestrian Enforcement effort.
Pedestrian Fatalities on the Rise
As we have reported in other stories, fatal pedestrian accidents increased by 21% in 2020 from the previous year. That jump represents the biggest yearly increase since the data was recorded, starting in the mid-70s. What makes the leap in pedestrian deaths especially curious is the fact that 2020 saw a large decrease in vehicle traffic volumes due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The fact that there were fewer vehicles on the road yet a large jump in pedestrian traffic deaths continues to baffle traffic safety experts.
Vacaville Pedestrian Accident Lawyer
Hello, and thank you for reading. My name is Ed Smith, and I’m a Vacaville pedestrian accident lawyer. We are always saddened to report on fatal car crashes such as this one, in which a pedestrian lost his life near the Nut Tree in Vacaville. We represent our clients with compassion. If you have been injured or your family has lost a loved one in a wrongful death car accident, call us for free and friendly legal advice. We can set up a no-obligation consultation to go over the details of your potential claim, or simply speak over the phone. Our phone number is (707) 334-2545. We also provide a toll-free line for those calling from outside the local area code: (800) 404-5400.
For more than 38 years, my firm has been assisting Vacaville residents with personal injury and wrongful death matters. To learn more about me and my skilled legal team, visit our settlements and verdicts page, or follow the below links to read client reviews:
Photo: pixabay
mm llo [cs 673]