Teenager Killed In Bicycle Accident At Busy Martinez Intersection
A 13-year-old boy in Martinez, Calif. was killed when be was struck by a teenage driver at a busy and apparently dangerous intersection as he was riding his bicycle. According to a news article in CBS News’ Web site, the boy, identified as Tommy Choi, sustained major injuries and was rushed to the hospital where he died an hour after the accident.
The boy was reportedly riding his bike back from school on the busy street, which had a speed limit of 35 mph. The driver who hit the boy was a 16-year-old. Drugs or alcohol don’t seem to be a factor but we don’t know yet if the driver was speeding or was distracted in some other way. The teen driver has not been cited or charged yet.
This is of course a huge tragedy for the family of the 13-year-old boy. Our hearts and prayers go out to them. What is even more heart-breaking is the fact that these types of auto accidents and bicycle accidents would be entirely avoidable if only the cities and agencies that are responsible for the roadways fix the dangers at busy intersections.
This very much reminds me of a recent case our firm has been dealing with where we are representing Christopher Chan, a 14-year-old boy, who was hit by a car at a similar dangerous intersection. He suffered severe injuries, including a debilitating brain injury. The City of Hanford did nothing to fix the dangerous situation on the roadway.
I understand that in these tough economic times, funding for street projects is hard to come by for cities and county agencies. But often, the solutions are simple. Improving visibility, adding flashing lights to draw attention to pedestrians crossing the street and clearing out obstructions such as foliage, will greatly help to reduce the risk of an injury or fatal accident at dangerous, especially busy, intersections. It’ll certainly be a lot cheaper than paying out multi-million dollar settlements to accident injury victims and the city of Hanford can vouch for that.
Comments
This is not a "busy intersection". Alhambra is a busy 4 lane road, and the street Tommy came down has a steep hill and a STOP sign at the corner. The road ends there.
There is no crosswalk to cross Alhambra at that point. This was a tragic accident for both families, and in no way the city's fault.
Posted by: Sue Ahern | May 7, 2008 1:56 PM
I was hit by a car on Monday, May 5th, at Avenue A just east of Pacifidc Coast Highway in Redondo Beach, CA. It happened at 9:45 AM, and have contusions, lacerations to the head, fractured ribs, separated AC joint, 2 sprained wrists, strained fingers, a puncture wound to the eye and cuts on the cornea and sclera, and have bruising and scratches head to toe.
I'm just now trying to get my wits about me to pursue finding the woman who did this. In an olive green Toyota Camry, and she's a 40 something asian woman who speaks broken english.
Today is my birthday, and i know i'm lucky to be here. i feel so badly for the family of this boy who did not make it. i'll live my life as if i was given a second chance at it, for sure.
Everyone out there...please be careful to not go so fast while turning corners. The corner at PCH and Avenue A (if you're going North on pch) is too dangerous right now. Drivers, you come around that corner so fast, and don't look as you quickly and in one movement drive into the parking lot at Aimee's restaurant and the bakery. A cup of coffee in the early AM on your way to work is NOT worth someone's life, and it doesn't just hurt them physically...I'm dealing with emotional, spiritual and mental affects, too. The pain I am in is outragious, and is hardly manageable. but, I am alive.
Drivers, drive safe...bicyclists...drive defensively, and avoid Avenues B and A and PCH as well as careful at Knob Hill and Pacific Coast Highway, Redondo Beach, California..
Posted by: Erika | May 9, 2008 10:19 AM