Thanksgiving Morning Pedestrian Fatality
On Thanksgiving morning, November 25, 2021, a 32-year-old man from Napa was struck by a minivan and killed, according to reports from the California Highway Patrol (CHP).
Details of the Thanksgiving Morning Incident
The tragic collision happened before sunrise – at approximately 4:50 a.m. – on the Napa-Vallejo Highway (Highway 221). The man had been walking in a lane of the highway just south of Streblow Drive, which is the entrance to Kennedy Park. He was walking in a southbound lane and was struck by a 2005 Honda Odyssey that was traveling within that lane, according to a news release issued by the Napa Area Office of the CHP.
Minivan Driver Not Charged
The driver of the minivan was a 44-year-old woman from Napa. She was the sole occupant of the vehicle and was not charged with any wrongdoing.
Highway Closed on Thanksgiving Morning
The accident resulted in a closure of southbound Highway 221 at Streblow Drive for an hour and a half following the incident so that the CHP could investigate and gather evidence.
Continuing Investigation
The deceased man’s identity was withheld since his family had not yet been notified.
The fatal incident remains under investigation. Anyone with additional information is asked to call the Napa CHP office.
Deadly Holiday Weekend Throughout California
The deadly pedestrian crash in Napa was one of three fatal traffic incidents that occurred in the Bay Area during the early morning hours of Thanksgiving. The other two crashes occurred in Contra Costa and San Mateo Counties.
Throughout California, there were additional holiday deaths. According to a Tweet posted on November 28th by the CHP Headquarters, there have been 31 traffic fatalities since 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 24th, which was the beginning of the agency’s Thanksgiving Maximum Enforcement Period. That period of additional enforcement efforts ended at midnight on Sunday. There were also 948 arrests for driving under the influence (DUI) during that time period.
Holiday Accidents are No Suprise
The number of traffic accidents increases during holiday periods. When we look at the factors that lead to the increase, the phenomenon is not surprising. Below are some of the reasons that there are more collisions during Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Eve.
- More Traffic. During the holidays, more people drive. They go shopping, run errands, and visit family and friends.
- Stressed and Distracted Driving. Holidays are often thought of as happy times of celebration, but they are also stressful for a lot of people. Rushing to buy last-minute gifts or to get to a family gathering on time can lead to unsafe driving behaviors.
- Drunk Driving. It is no secret that people drink more alcohol during the holidays, and this can lead to an increase in the number of DUI’s and alcohol-related crashes on the roads. Drunk and drug-impaired driving is a primary cause of traffic collisions.
- Unfamiliar Roads. People often visit other cities and towns to visit family during the holidays. Not being familiar with the roads in a new place can result in an increased risk of a collision. Visitors to an area, in addition to not knowing the roads, also may be unfamiliar with local traffic patterns and customs.
Watch the YouTube video. The news clip from ABC10 reports on holiday travel safety tips.
Napa Personal Injury Attorneys
Thank you for visiting our blog and reading about this tragedy that occurred on Thanksgiving morning in Napa. I’m Ed Smith, a Napa Personal Injury Attorney. Terrible accidents are not limited to holiday weekends. Every day on our Northern California roads, there are crashes that cause serious injuries and wrongful deaths. If you or a family member has suffered harm due to the negligence of another motorist, call our experienced injury attorneys to receive free and friendly advice. Our phone number is (707) 564-1900. We also have a toll-free line for those outside the local area: (800) 404-5400.
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Photo: by Paolo Nicolello on Unsplash
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