Pedestrian accident in crosswalk sends 2 to hospital
Under the vehicle code of California, vehicle operators are required to slow down and take due care in yielding the right of way to pedestrians who are in marked crosswalks. Unfortunately, not all drivers obey this law. A Petaluma driver was recently arrested after a pedestrian accident in which two people suffered injuries.
According to an accident report, two Petaluma residents crossed a local street in the early evening after leaving a movie theater. They were in a marked crosswalk, and according to a witness, they had almost reached the other side when a vehicle smashed into them. The impact reportedly caused them both to land on the hood of the car before they were thrown onto the roadway.
The report states that a 21-year-old male suffered injuries to his legs, arms and head, and he was transported to a local hospital. A 23-year-old female was rushed to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital for the treatment of head injuries. According to police, the car was traveling at a speed that exceeded the limit, and although the driver apparently saw the pedestrians, she was unable to stop in time. The driver apparently appeared to be intoxicated, and officers say her poor performance in the field sobriety tests that were administered led to her arrest.
She was suspected of being impaired by prescription drugs at the time of the accident, and she was charged accordingly. The two injured victims of this pedestrian accident are entitled to pursue claims for financial relief by filing a personal injury lawsuit in a California civil court. The court will consider documented claims for medical expenses and other financial and emotional damages after the proper proof of driver negligence is submitted.
Source: pressdemocrat.com, “Petaluma driver arrested on DUI after two pedestrians struck in downtown crosswalk“, Guy Kovner, Dec. 19, 2015
