Pedestrian Killed on Interstate 680
On the evening of Sunday, September 26, 2021, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) responded to a vehicle-versus-pedestrian collision on Interstate 680 near Martinez. According to the preliminary investigation, it appears that the involved motorist may not have been able to avoid a pedestrian in the road.
Witnesses Reported a Pedestrian in the Road
Calls to dispatch came in just after 7:50 p.m. on Sunday, and officers responded to reports of a vehicle-versus-pedestrian crash. The location of the incident was the southbound lanes of I-680 north of the Marina Vista exit. When authorities got to the scene, they located a deceased pedestrian, according to a CHP social media post.
Driver Unable to Avoid Pedestrian in the Road
According to the information available, the pedestrian had been in the road when they were struck by a white Toyota sedan, the driver of which was unable to avoid the collision. The driver of the Toyota stayed on the scene and cooperated with officers who were investigating the incident. The name of the deceased has not yet been released.
The Aftermath of the Crash
At approximately 8:12 p.m., a Sig-alert was issued that closed all southbound lanes. As a result, traffic on the Benicia Bridge was backed up. The number four lane of the roadway was reopened at 8:39 p.m.
Continuing Investigation
Anyone with additional information about this incident is asked to call the Contra Costa area CHP office at (925) 646-4980.
Are There More Reports of Pedestrians in the Road Lately?
It seems as though recently there has been a spate of stories regarding pedestrian fatalities where the person who was killed was in the roadway and unavoidable to motorists. This has been happening even on busy interstate highways such as where this accident occurred. In 2019, fatal pedestrian accidents increased 12% from the previous year, and the upward trend seems to be continuing.
While we are in no way speculating that this factor applies to the recent Contra Costa County incident, one group of people that are being disproportionately affected by rising pedestrian accidents are homeless individuals.
This phenomenon has been studied in San Francisco. In 2018, five out of the 23 pedestrians that were killed that year in traffic collisions did not live at a permanent or fixed address, according to information from the Department of Public Health. How those numbers translate: although unhoused individuals made up less than one percent of the city’s population that year, they accounted for 22% of pedestrian traffic deaths.
What are Potential Solutions?
If it is true that the rising rate of pedestrian fatalities is due in large part to an increasing homeless population in California, addressing the underlying issue would likely have an effect on bringing the number of fatalities down.
Another way to address the problem could include the installation of safer travel routes for all pedestrians, especially near areas of commerce.
Watch the YouTube video. Below is a report on how busy streets in NYC became more pedestrian-friendly.
Benicia Personal Injury Lawyer
Hello, and thanks for reading. My name is Ed Smith, and I am a Benicia personal injury lawyer. The roads and highways of Northern California see a number of injury-causing car accidents every day, in addition to many fatal car crashes. If you have been harmed in such an accident that was caused by a negligent driver, it is important to seek experienced legal help. Our compassionate injury lawyers are available to provide free and friendly advice over the telephone – just call us at (707) 564-1900 or (800) 404-5400.
For nearly four decades, our firm has been advocating for Benicia residents and other Northern Californians. Some of our past case results can be viewed on our settlements and verdicts page. We also have an assortment of positive client reviews that are posted on the following websites:
Photo: https://pixabay.com/photos/light-death-memorial-isolated-wax-1551386/
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