Yakima is known for a lot of things, its award winning wineries, its spectacular desert scenery, and its abundant crystal meth labs. What Yakima is not known for is its pedestrian friendly streets. Though many of the streets do have sidewalks, crossing the road is a whole different story without a crosswalk or a signal. One Yakima man found that out the hard way Sunday night.
Yakima police rushed to the scene of a car-pedestrian accident south of the intersection of South 3rd Avenue and West Spruce Street around 9:30 pm. There they found Francisco Pena, 47, lying on the ground with a serious head injury.
Police say Pena was hit by a vehicle while he was either standing in the center of the roadway or crossing the road. They confirm that they believe he had been drinking.
He was taken to Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital for treatment of his head injuries and other minor injuries. A hospital spokesperson said today that Pena has been treated and released.
Police say the driver will not be cited at this time.
What is odd about this situation is why the victim was struck in the first place. Drunk or not, standing in the middle of the road or not, pedestrians still have the right of way. It’s a straight, wide road, with no obstructions, and even a street lamp. Did the law change? Is it now okay to hit pedestrians causing them serious personal injuries if they’ve been drinking?
If you or a loved one has been run over by a car you may be entitled to compensation to cover hospital costs, lost wages, pain and suffering, and future loses due to permanent disability. Call the Washington pedestrian accident attorneys at Phillips Webster for a free consultation.
Learn More About:
- Washington Law and Car Accidents
- Filing a Personal Injury Lawsuit
- Medical Care Costs and Personal Injury
