Pedestrian Collision on Highway 37
On the afternoon of Thursday, September 16, 2021, a pedestrian was killed when she was struck by a vehicle on Highway 37 west of Mare Island in Vallejo, California.
Details of the Deadly Incident
According to the California Highway Patrol (CHP), the tragic collision took place shortly before 4:00 a.m. Authorities reported that a 2014 Nissan Versa was traveling east on 37 when the driver struck the woman, who remains unidentified.
The police were notified and the driver, who did not sustain injuries in the crash, remained at the scene. Medic Ambulance responded quickly, but, sadly, the woman was pronounced dead at the scene.
Continuing Investigation
The cause of the collision is still under investigation and anyone with any information is requested to speak with CHP Officer Tatum, who can be reached at (707) 428-2100.
Pedestrians on the Highway
It is unclear why the woman that was killed was on Highway 37 near Mare Island. In general, there has been an increase in pedestrian fatalities overall, but in particular, there are more American pedestrians dying on high-speed roads. One of the reasons for this uptick is suspected to be a lack of proper infrastructure that helps people cross safely.
Over the past decade, the number of pedestrian highway fatalities has increased by a whopping 60 percent, which surpasses the 53% rise in pedestrian deaths on all roads, according to a recent report by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).
Between 2015 and 2017, there were 2,518 pedestrian fatalities on controlled-access interstates and freeways. Eighty-one percent of those fatalities occurred in urban centers. Seventy-five percent of those killed were male, and more than half were between the ages of 20 and 44. Forty-two percent of deaths within those subsets happened when the person tried to cross dangerous multi-lane roadways.
Access to Business Centers
In some areas of the country, pedestrians have been weighing the risks of being hit by a speeding vehicle with more direct access to stores and other businesses within their neighborhoods, according to the IIHS study. Particularly in California, the study found that there was often housing on one side of the traffic corridor and shopping centers or other commercial businesses on the other. Approximately half of the fatalities studied happened when many stores were still open – 6:00 p.m. and midnight. Nearly half involved roadways that were poorly lit. The study surmised that the risks of pedestrian deaths on such roads would decrease if there was additional lighting and under-or over-crossings installed.
Other Ways to Protect Pedestrians
While fatalities among pedestrians and bicyclists have skyrocketed over the past ten years, vehicle safety for motorists has increased. Larger cars, while safer for the driver and vehicle occupants, are more dangerous for people walking and riding bicycles on roadways. The IIHS has been working to improve headlight performance and mandate more advanced braking systems that could help improve road safety for everyone.
Lower speeds could also increase the safety of pedestrians and bicyclists. Highway speeds have been steadily increasing. If a person is hit by a vehicle traveling at least 55 miles per hour, the likelihood of death is approximately 90 percent. Speed limits are set without considering that people may be on the roadway, therefore speeds on highways are not compatible with the idea that a pedestrian may be hit. This is a big reason why safe crossings should be increased to keep people off the roadway itself. Overpasses and underpasses allow people to cross more safely. Other features such as physical barriers, and better public transit could help to keep people from running across the freeway.
Watch the YouTube video. The clip below, uploaded by Cheddar, gives an opinion on the causes of increasing pedestrian deaths.
Vallejo Pedestrian Injury Attorney
Hello. I’m Ed Smith, a Vallejo pedestrian accident attorney. Thank you for reading our story about this pedestrian tragedy near Mare Island. For more than 38 years, my team of skilled injury attorneys has helped Vallejo residents recover from motor vehicle accidents. If you need help following a car accident, call us at (707) 564-1900 or (800) 404-5400 for free and friendly advice.
Photo: by Pixel2013 on Pixabay
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