Man Pushing Vehicle on I-80 Struck
The California Highway Patrol (CHP) reports that late in the evening, on Monday, July 12, 2021, a person was struck and killed in the act of pushing a vehicle. This tragedy occurred near Davis, California, on Interstate 80 (I-80). Following that incident, a chain reaction of crashes occurred, involving a total of four vehicles.
Officers from the CHP arrived at the scene shortly before midnight. The fatal incident took place on the westbound side of I-80, east of County Road 32a.
Details of the I-80 Fatality
Investigators report that a person driving a 2010 Cadillac in the far right lane of westbound I-80 crashed into the rear of a 2016 Toyota that was being pushed along the road by a male pedestrian. The impact threw the pedestrian onto the freeway, where he was struck again by another car and then struck a third time by a semi-truck. First responders pronounced the man dead at the scene. They were, however, unable to determine whether he was killed from the initial crash or from a subsequent strike.
Subsequent Collisions
A person driving a 2016 Nissan westbound on I-80 was able to avoid the driver of the Cadillac who had exited his vehicle and was standing near it. The Nissan driver also did not strike the deceased driver of the Toyota who was in the road, but the Nissan did collide with the Cadillac.
The driver of the big rig did not pull over and stop, according to CHP officials. They are requesting that the semi-truck driver contact the Woodland CHP office at (530) 662-4685 to assist with the continuing investigation. Anyone else with information about the collisions is also asked to call. It is not known whether alcohol or drugs played any part in the terrible incident.
Road Shoulder Danger
This tragedy illustrates how dangerous it can be along the shoulder of the highway. It is unclear given the details of the story whether the pedestrian was pushing the vehicle on the shoulder, or within the far right lane. Obviously, it would be incredibly dangerous to push a vehicle within an actual lane of traffic. Even on the shoulder, the danger is abundant. If you are forced to move a disabled vehicle to the road’s shoulder, take every possible step to increase the distance of your vehicle from the traffic lanes of the highway. Other things to remember:
- Do not pull to the highway shoulder unless there is a true emergency. Especially at night. Drivers on the road may see taillights and not recognize that the vehicle is stopped.
- If you have a flat tire, drive to the next exit. You may cause some damage to the wheel of your vehicle, but your safety is more important.
- Use every possible amount of space between your car and the lanes of traffic, even if that means the passenger door will not open. If you are stranded and have to wait for aid, exit the vehicle and get as far away from traffic as you can.
- Stopping on the right shoulder is safer than on the left. Traffic should be slower in the right lane.
- Make the disabled vehicle as noticeable as possible. Use your hazard lights and if you have any additional lights or flares, use them. This will give other drivers approaching more time to react.
Watch the YouTube video. Below is a news clip discussing what you should do if your car breaks down on the highway.
Davis Personal Injury Lawyer
Thank you for visiting our legal blog. My name is Ed Smith, and I am a Davis, California personal injury lawyer. Our experienced injury lawyers have been advocating for injured Northern Californians for more than 38 years. Following an accident, call us for free and friendly legal advice at (530) 392-9400. Our toll-free number for those calling from other area codes is (800) 404-5400.
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