Pedestrian Struck on San Pablo Avenue
On the afternoon of Thursday, August 19, 2021, a 59-year-old male pedestrian was struck by a van on San Pablo Avenue in Berkeley. He was transported to the hospital for treatment of major injuries, according to a spokesperson from the Berkeley Police Department (BPD).
Details of the San Pablo Avenue Incident
The van versus pedestrian crash occurred at approximately 2:45 p.m on San Pablo Avenue near its intersection with Oregon Street. The van driver, a 65-year-old man from Berkeley, remained at the scene and spoke with police. He was subsequently arrested for suspicion of driving under the influence (DUI) and causing physical injury to another.
The pedestrian was transported to Highland Hospital with severe injuries. He was later reported to be in critical but stable condition.
During the investigation, San Pablo Avenue was closed to vehicle traffic between Heinz Avenue and Grayson Street. Motorists were advised to find alternate routes during the hours that the street was blocked off.
Watch the YouTube video. Officers from the BPD have monitored intersections to help increase pedestrian safety in the city. The clip below highlights some of their work.
Pedestrians at Risk
Whenever there are people traveling on foot in areas near motor vehicle traffic, risks exist. Here are some statistics from the Centers for Disease Control from the year 2017:
- The number of pedestrians that were killed in vehicle crashes in the United States: 5977.
- The number of pedestrians that were seen in emergency rooms for collision-related injuries: 137,000 (estimated).
Because of their vulnerability, pedestrians are one and a half times more likely to be killed in a car crash on a per-trip basis than occupants of passenger vehicles.
Those most at risk of being in a car versus pedestrian incident are motorists and pedestrians who are impaired by drugs and/or alcohol.
DUI and Pedestrian Crashes
Nearly half of all collisions that caused the death of a pedestrian in 2017 involved the presence of alcohol in the driver and/or the pedestrian. A third of all fatal pedestrian collisions involved a pedestrian with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of at least 0.08. Seventeen percent involved a driver with a BAC of at least 0.08. Some deadly pedestrian collisions involved both an impaired motorist and an impaired pedestrian.
Increased Risk for the Old and the Young
Pedestrians that were at least 65 years of age made up twenty percent of all pedestrian fatalities and around ten percent of the pedestrian injuries in 2017. Of all the children under the age of 15 that were killed in vehicle collisions that year, one in every five were pedestrians.
Other Pedestrian Risk Factors
The CDC presents other factors that affect the likelihood of a pedestrian traffic collision:
- Higher vehicle speeds mean a higher likelihood of striking a pedestrian as well as increasing the severity of pedestrian injuries.
- The majority of pedestrian fatalities occur at non-intersections within urban areas, at night.
Safety Tips for Pedestrians
The CDC website presents some things to keep in mind before you hit the streets on foot:
- When walking at night, carry a flashlight and wear reflective clothing to increase your visibility.
- Use an intersection or a designated crosswalk to cross the street whenever possible.
- Walk on a path or sidewalk rather than on the road. If that is not possible, walk on the shoulder as far away from vehicles as possible in the opposite direction of traffic.
- Stay aware and alert. Do not walk while impaired and do not be distracted by your mobile device and/or earbuds.
Berkeley Personal Injury Lawyer
Hello. I’m Ed Smith, a Berkeley personal injury attorney. If you have been injured due to someone else’s negligence, our experienced injury lawyers are ready to help. Call us at (510) 631-0200 or (800) 404-5400 for compassionate, free, and friendly legal advice. If you prefer, you can also send your inquiry via our online form.
For decades, I have helped Berkeley residents with all types of injury accidents. I also assist grieving families after incidents causing wrongful death.
To learn more about our firm, please visit the following links:
Photo: pixabay
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