Pedestrian Accidents
September 9, 2010 - Two members of the Casa Grande High School Cross Country team were injured in a pedestrian accident at approximately 4:15 p.m. on Wednesday. The accident occurred at the intersection of Sonoma Mountain Parkway and Monroe Street. The two injured student-athletes were running with a group of cross country runners on Sonoma Mountain Parkway. One of the runners activated the pedestrian crossing lights to warn motorists that they were about to cross the street. According to Petaluma police, two vehicles stopped in the right lane closest to the curb to allow the runners to enter the roadway. However, a 16-year-old female high school student in a Ford pickup truck traveling in the left lane failed to stop. A 17-year-old girl and a 15-year-old boy attempted to get out of the way of the oncoming vehicle but were unable to do so. The pickup truck driver tried to swerve to avoid them, but could not avoid the collision either. The driver told police that she could not see the runners because the stopped vehicles obstructed her vision of them. Petaluma police officials said the truck was traveling approximately 40 miles per hour which is the posted speed limit in that area. Emergency medical personnel arrived on the scene and began administering treatment to the injured teenagers. A Petaluma police officer indicated that neither of them lost consciousness and both were alert when emergency crews arrived. They were taken to local hospitals for treatment of their injuries. California Vehicle Code Section 21950 requires the driver of a vehicle to yield the right-of-way to pedestrians crossing the roadway in any marked or unmarked crosswalk. According to the Department of Motor Vehicles handbook, "Every intersection where streets meet at right angles has crosswalks for pedestrians to cross the street. [...] Many pedestrian crosswalks are marked by solid white lines. Some crosswalks, especially in residential areas, are not marked." California law requires that pedestrians use due care for their own safety. Pedestrians may not suddenly enter the roadway when an oncoming vehicle is so close as to constitute an immediate hazard. The driver of a vehicle approaching any pedestrian in a marked or unmarked crosswalk must exercise due care by stopping or reducing the speed of their vehicle or taking other actions to safeguard the safety of the pedestrian. If you see cars stopped at a crosswalk, you are required to stop too. It is very dangerous not to stop. You can't see pedestrians behind the stopped vehicles and the pedestrians probably can't see you. If you or a loved one have been injured in a pedestrian accident or other type of car accident you might want to call an experienced Sonoma County Personal Injury attorney for a free consultation about your personal injury case.