An elderly woman was killed in a San Diego car accident after she was struck by television news vehicle at an intersection in the Kearny Mesa area. According to a news report in The San Diego Union-Tribune, the woman was crossing at the intersection of Shawline Street and Clairemont Mesa Boulevard the evening of January 21, 2010, when the vehicle hit her. The driver of the news vehicle apparently told police officials that he did not see the woman until it was too late. He told police that the woman was not in a crosswalk. The victim suffered severe head injuries. She was taken to an area hospital where she died. Police have said that the driver was not at fault and will not be charged.

I offer my deepest condolences to the family and friends of the deceased victim. Please keep them in your prayers.

Pedestrian Accidents in San Diego

According to California Highway Patrol's 2007 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there were 25 fatalities and 575 injuries involving pedestrian accidents in San Diego. Countywide, 51 people died and 1,068 were injured as a result of pedestrian accidents during the same year.

Causes and Liability Issues

Based on this news report, the elderly woman was walking across an intersection. In my opinion, there are still several questions here. Were there other witnesses who corroborated the driver's account that the woman was outside of the crosswalk? Where exactly was the woman walking at the time of the fatal collision? How fast was the news vehicle traveling at the time? Was the driver distracted or inattentive at the time? Did the news vehicle have the green light at the time? If I were a member of this elderly victim's family, I would want to know exactly what happened here. California law states that drivers should yield right-of-way to pedestrians who legally walking in a marked/unmarked crosswalk or at an intersection.

Victims' families in such cases, would be well-advised to contact an experienced San Diego personal injury lawyer, who will analyze every angle of the incident and make sure the negligent parties are held accountable. A skilled car accident lawyer will also be able to determine whether there was a dangerous condition at this intersection, which caused or contributed to this accident. If that was the case, the governmental agency responsible for maintaining that roadway could also be held liable. Please remember that any claim against a California governmental agency must be properly filed within 180 days of the accident or injury.

The BISNAR|CHASE personal injury law firm is not representing any of the parties mentioned in this article at the time the article was posted. Our information source is cited in the article. If you were involved in this incident or a similar incident and have questions as to your rights and options, call us or another reputable law firm. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. Get a consultation. The best law firms will provide a free consultation. We provide a free, confidential consultation to not at fault persons named in this article. The free consultation offer extends to family members as well.

Bookmark and Share