Pedestrian Killed on Trancas Street
On Friday night, November 5, 2021, a 27-year-old man was killed when he was hit by a vehicle as he was attempting to cross Trancas Street in Napa, California.
Details of the Deadly Incident
A news release issued by the California Highway Patrol (CHP) indicates that the vehicle-versus-pedestrian collision happened just before 10:00 p.m. on Trancas Street in Napa, which is west of the Silverado Trail. Following notification of family, the pedestrian was identified by the Napa Coronor’s office as Gabriel Patlan Barajas. Mr. Barajas was crossing the street in the left westbound lane when he was hit by a 2016 Mercedes-Benz. The impact propelled Mr. Barajas onto the north shoulder of the road.
Quick Medical Response
First responders arrived at the scene very quickly, and Mr. Barajas was transported by an American Medical Response ambulance to Providence Queen of the Valley Medical Center, which is only a short distance west of the crash site. Unfortunately, despite such a fast response, he was pronounced dead approximately 20 minutes after arrival, according to authorities.
No Charges Filed Against Driver
The driver of the Mercedes was a 25-year-old man from San Francisco. Following the collision, he pulled over onto the shoulder on the north side of Trancas Street. Cal Fire personnel were passing by at the time, and he was immediately spoken to by those firefighters. The initial investigation into the incident did not result in any citations or charges being filed.
Continuing Investigation by CHP
The investigation into the cause of the incident is still open. Anyone who has further information about events surrounding this fatal pedestrian crash should contact the Napa area CHP office.
Where Do Pedestrian Accidents Occur?
This tragic event in Napa seems to have many factors that are common among deadly pedestrian accidents. First, it happened at night. Most pedestrian accidents happen between the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., simply because visibility is reduced and motorists are less likely to see a person in their vehicle’s path.
It appears that this recent fatal incident occurred in an area of Trancas Street that was not an intersection. Most of the time when a pedestrian is struck by a vehicle in an urban area, it occurs outside of an intersection. Motorists are not expecting people in the middle of the road in other parts of the street.
The weather was clear on the evening of November 5th in Napa. Unlike other types of accidents, bad weather is not one of the factors that lead to an increase in pedestrian accidents – probably because there are fewer people out walking in the rain, sleet, or snow.
Finally, the area in which this crash occurred was a commercial area. Trancas Street is lined with all sorts of businesses, including fast-food restaurants. Most deadly pedestrian crashes happen in similar types of areas. People on foot are often trying to get to businesses on the other side of the road when they are struck.
Watch the YouTube video. The news clip below reports on one of the many CHP efforts throughout California to increase pedestrian safety awareness.
Personal Injury Attorneys in Napa
Hello, I’m Ed Smith, a Napa Personal Injury Attorney. Sadly, there have been many reports of deadly pedestrian accidents in the news lately. For nearly four decades, the skilled injury lawyers at our firm have been advocates for injured Napa residents. With care and compassion, we also represent grieving families who have endured the wrongful death of a loved one. If you have questions following a serious accident and would like to receive our free and friendly legal advice, call us at (707) 564-1900. From outside the local area code, please use the toll-free line we provide: (800) 404-5400.
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Photo by: Tara Evans via Unsplash
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