Kent, Washington – Pedestrian in Critical Condition Following Hit and Run

Kent, Washington (November 1, 2019) – A pedestrian sustained serious injuries after getting struck by a car while crossing Highway 99 at South 240th Street on Friday night. The victim was taken to Haborview Medical Center, where he was reported to be in critical condition as of Saturday afternoon. No other injuries were reported in the incident.

According to information from the Kent Police, the westbound pedestrian was crossing the street when he was struck by a northbound vehicle, which fled the scene. There has not been much information about the responsible vehicle, except that it may have been a light or dark-colored Corolla vehicle that might have damage on the driver’s side. Anyone with information on the incident is encouraged to call the Kent Police.

About Pedestrian Accidents

Unfortunately, as shown in this case, pedestrians are at also risk while on the streets, with the National Center for Health Statistics estimating 7, 450  pedestrian deaths in 2017. Pedestrian accidents can fall under traffic or non-traffic depending on the location where they were struck. Traffic incidents happen on public roads, while non-traffic incidents occur on non-traffic areas such as driveways, parking lots and other private property. Most pedestrian deaths occur in urban settings, on urban roads (72%) versus on intersections (18%), and mostly at night. Much like motorcycle accidents, pedestrian accidents can happen simply because people are not as visible as other vehicles, a problem which is worse during night. And in an event of a car crash, similar to motorcycle drivers and passengers, the risk to pedestrians are greater than those inside a car, with fatality rate being 1.5 times greater than any car passenger.When it comes to risk, older adults, children, and alcohol-impaired drivers or pedestrians are at most risk in pedestrian accidents. The risk is further heightened in a situation where a vehicle is at high speed. Lately, distractions also cause accidents not only for drivers, but also pedestrians, specifically those who are using their phones while crossing the road. We urge everyone to exercise area awareness at all times and to keep their attention on the road. Avoiding accidents not only prevents loss, damage, injuries and death to one’s self, but also on other people in the surroundings.

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