Tragic Pedestrian Crash Reported on Interstate 95 in Savannah, Georgia (GA)

SAVANNAH, GA- Wsav.com writes that a pedestrian crash killed one person this week in Savannah. The collision took place in the northbound lanes of Interstate 95. The driver involved, identified as a 40-year-old man who was operating a Freightliner Cascadia.*

The trucker was near mile marker 104 when the vehicle collided with a person in the roadway. The victim was identified as a 21-year-old man from Miramar. The crash is still under investigation.

Pedestrian fatalities have been increasing nationally for years and have been on the rise in Georgia in recent years as well. In fact, over a five-year time period, Georgia saw its number of pedestrian deaths increase by 60 percent. 

Many of these crashes are occurring at night, suggesting that lighting is one of the major issues leading to these tragic events. The high number of such wrecks that take place after dark suggests a need for improved street lighting in order to reduce the risks associated with walking at night.  

Another problem is that Americans have a preference for larger vehicles such as SUVs or pickup trucks. Studies indicate that these larger vehicles carry a greater risk of causing fatal injuries to pedestrians than would cars. 

Alcohol continues to remain a factor in many pedestrian crashes. Drunk drivers and drunk pedestrians both lead to dangers on the road. About one in three pedestrians killed has an elevated BAC, while about sixteen percent of drivers involved in fatal pedestrian crashes have a BAC that exceeds the legal limit. 

Many also suggest that distracted driving is leading to more pedestrian crashes. The use of cellphones has increased dramatically and is likely contributing to the increasing number of pedestrian tragedies. 

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 a 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:

https://www.wsav.com/crime-safety/spd-investigates-fatal-pedestrian-involved-crash-on-i-95/

https://www.gahighwaysafety.org/research/

https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a31136893/pedestrian-deaths-increase-2019/

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/trafficandcommuting/distractions-drinking-and-darkness-contribute-to-rise-in-pedestrian-deaths-report-says/2020/02/26/71a93408-58f0-11ea-9b35-def5a027d470_story.html