Earlier this week a fatal crash occurred in Beaver County that left a 48-year-old man dead. He was seriously injured when a vehicle hit him as he walked on Woodlawn Road. The incident occurred in the morning.

Immediately following the collision, the man behind the wheel of the vehicle that struck the pedestrian, stopped. At that time the pedestrian was not responsive or conscious. Recognizing that the other man was really hurt, the driver then called for emergency assistance.

Other than being serious, the nature of his injuries is not known. After being taken to an area hospital, the man who had been walking sadly died.

It is not clear how the accident unfolded. As regular readers of this blog are undoubtedly aware, there are multiple reasons why it could have occurred. The weather may have played a role. According to the Assistant Police Chief, the rain made it impossible for the injured man to be transported to the hospital in a helicopter.

Poor lighting may have also in some part been to blame for the crash. The stretch of road where the accident occurred was recently installed and may not have many streetlights.

The incident is being looked into. Thus far no criminal charges have been filed against the 19-year-old. It is unclear if any will be.

Unfortunately, pedestrians walking along the side of the road are prime targets in be involved in accidents that could lead to personal injury lawsuits. In the worst cases, such as this one, the injuries are so devastating that they result in death. It is not known if a wrongful death lawsuit will be filed against the driver of the car.

Source: WTAE, "Police investigate vehicle-pedestrian crash in Aliquippa," Nov. 2, 2012