As a pedestrian, you have a right to be near the roads, to use them to cross in crosswalks, and to get where you’re going safely. Unfortunately, when you walk at night or are in the dark, some drivers won’t see you. Still others will be intoxicated or speeding, making it hard for them to stop in time to avoid a collision.
According to a news story out of Connecticut, a man was killed trying to cross Bridgeport Avenue at around 2 a.m. It was early in the morning, but like many accidents that take place at night, there is still no reason to hit a pedestrian or to be moving so fast that the pedestrian isn’t seen in time. The crash was fatal for the man; The 24-year-old man was rushed to the hospital after he was struck by the vehicle, but he was pronounced dead on arrival.
What was the driver doing wrong? Could this accident have been prevented? The short answer is, “yes.”
The driver, a 46-year-old man, was taken into custody following the collision, because tests came back to show that he was intoxicated when the collision took place. Police have reported that he has been charged with operating a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol. He’s been allowed free on bail, but he will be facing charges in court shortly. Those are only criminal charges; there has been no information on whether or not the 24-year-old man’s family will seek compensation for his death through a civil lawsuit, which is one possibility for people in this situation.
Source: NBC Connecticut, “Driver Faces DUI Charges After Fatal Pedestrian Accident in Milford,” March 07, 2016