BMW Strikes and Kills 85-Year-Old Pedestrian in Tragic Horry County Crash

HORRY COUNTY, SC- Wmbfnews.com writes that a car struck and killed an 85-year-old woman from Loris late last week. The crash took place in the early evening when on West Dogwood Road. The victim was in the roadway when the 2002 BMW collided with her. The woman died at the scene of the accident.*

Police do not anticipate charges in the fatal crash. Reports did not include information regarding the identity of the driver. 

Pedestrian accidents are becoming more common each year. There are various factors that are creating the rising number of pedestrian deaths. Unfortunately, understanding the reasons for the increase in deadly pedestrian incidents does not help point to easy solutions to the problem. SUVs are undoubtedly one part of the issue. These more massive passenger vehicles are more likely to cause deadly injuries than a smaller vehicle that is lower to the ground. Sedans often strike people lower on their bodies, causing injuries to the lower extremities. SUVs can hit a person’s head or torso. 

Many traffic experts also blame smartphones, which are often distracting to both drivers and people who are walking. With so many people focused on their electronic devices rather than the roadway, there is an increased risk of all types of mishaps. 

Both large vehicles and smartphones are unlikely to go anywhere. There are, however, ways to reduce pedestrian deaths. One way is to lower speed limits, especially in areas where pedestrians frequently walk. Higher speed limits are correlated with a greater risk of pedestrian deaths. Another improvement would be to update infrastructure and implement changes that studies indicate would decrease risks to vulnerable road users. Adding more sidewalks, bike lanes, and crosswalks can help to lower the amount of time that pedestrians must share the street with automobiles. 

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.

Source:https://www.wmbfnews.com/2019/12/28/pedestrian-killed-after-being-hit-by-bmw-loris-area/ and https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-traffic-fatalities/pedestrian-fatalities-on-u-s-roads-hit-almost-30-year-high-idUSKBN1X11E1 and https://aaafoundation.org/impact-speed-pedestrians-risk-severe-injury-death/