1 Hit and Killed After Auto-Pedestrian Crash
A man was hit and killed after an auto-pedestrian crash in Austin, TX. The collision occurred around 4 a.m. on Sunday, February 20, in the 1100 block of East Anderson Lane.
The Auto-Pedestrian Crash
On Sunday, February 20, a single-vehicle accident occurred around 4 a.m. in the 1100 block of East Anderson Lane. Before officers arrived, a second vehicle stopped at the scene offering assistance to the crash victim. After the driver exited their vehicle to help, they were struck by a third car passing by.
According to the Austin Police Department, the driver who had stopped to offer assistance was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the vehicle that struck the deceased also stopped at the scene.
The driver from the initial single-vehicle accident was taken to a nearby hospital with potentially serious injuries. There were two other people involved in the accident, but they refused transport by the Austin-Travis County EMS. Police are still actively investigating the two accidents and have not released the identity of the deceased or the driver that hit them.
Safety Tips for Pedestrians and Drivers On the Road
Keeping pedestrians safe on the road is a task that requires both pedestrians and drivers to do their part. According to the Texas Department of Transportation (TXDOT), there were 4,852 crashes involving pedestrians in Texas in 2020. Those crashes resulted in 1,211 serious injuries and 731 fatalities.
Reports showed that the main factors in those 2020 crashes were inattention and failure to follow traffic laws by both pedestrians and drivers. To reduce the number of auto-pedestrian crashes, here are some safety tips for both pedestrians and drivers to follow:
Pedestrians
- Use sidewalks whenever they’re available
- Walk facing traffic if you can’t use the sidewalk
- Stay as far away from traffic as possible
- Be alert at all times
- Use crosswalks or intersections
- Obey all traffic signs, signals, and rules
Drivers
- Always be on the lookout for pedestrians on or near the road
- Use extra caution when driving in poor weather conditions
- Check for pedestrians when approaching a crosswalk or intersection
- Yield to pedestrians at a crosswalk
- Don’t try to pass a vehicle that is stopped at a crosswalk
- Follow the speed limit
- Drive slower in school zones and neighborhoods where children are more likely to be present
In order for pedestrians and drivers to safely share the road together, changes need to be made by both parties.
It can be easy for drivers to overlook pedestrians on the road, so extra attention is required by drivers. Pedestrians can also make the mistake of assuming that drivers see them or failing to safely walk on or near the road. If drivers and pedestrians take the time to watch out for each other and be cautious on the road, fewer accidents and fatalities may occur.
Reach out to your Houston car accident attorneys at Lapeze & Johns today to get started on your legal claim.
