Police Car Strikes and Kills Pedestrian in Tragic Crash in DeKalb County
DEKALB COUNTY, GA- Thechampionnewspaper.com writes that a police officer struck a pedestrian in Tucker, killing the victim. The incident occurred in the late evening on Hugh Howell Road close to the Rosser Terrace.*
The driver was identified as an officer with the DeKalb County Police Department, who was traveling westbound in a Chevrolet Tahoe police vehicle when he struck the victim. The victim, identified as a 66-year-old man, appears to have been trying to cross the street at the time of the incident. The officer stated that he did not see the victim prior to striking him.
The police department has placed the officer involved on administrative leave while the crash is under investigation. The Georgia State Patrol is managing the case.
Pedestrian crashes are most likely to take place at night, in urban locations outside of designated intersections and crosswalks. Visibility is a major factor in many of these incidents. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that in order to increase the chances of being seen while walking at night, pedestrians should wear reflective clothing and carry flashlights.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration states that it is important for pedestrians to cross in well-lit places and never to assume a driver sees them before stepping into the road. The NHTSA also states that staying safe means remaining alert and aware of the surroundings. Like drivers, pedestrians should not be looking at electronic devices when on the road or crossing the street as these distractions can create a dangerous situation.
Safety on the roadway also requires that drivers stay alert, sober, and travel at or below the speed limit.
Accident News is a safety and education initiative from Montlick & Associates, designed to help people better understand and thereby avoid common accident causes. To learn more about our injury prevention programs, including iridesafe.com - click here. We hope you are never in an accident, but if you or family member are injured, call Montlick & Associates 24/7 for your free consultation at 1-800-LAW-NEED (1-800-529-6333) or use our live chat at Montlick.com.
Sources:
http://thechampionnewspaper.com/news/local/pedestrian-dies-after-being-struck-by-dkpd-vehicle/
https://www.cdc.gov/motorvehiclesafety/pedestrian_safety/index.html
https://www.nhtsa.gov/road-safety/pedestrian-safety