Battle Ground, Washington – Man Dies of Injuries from Collision at Northeast 72nd Avenue

Battle Ground, Washington (April 6, 2020) – A man died from injuries sustained in a collision on the 18200 block of Northeast 72nd Avenue on Monday night. According to KATU 2 News, 51 year-old Michael Banta was found lying on the roadway at the scene. Responders treated Banta and later transported him to a hospital, where he unfortunately died from his injuries. The driver of the involved vehicle was not reported to be injured and stayed on the scene to cooperate with police investigation.

The crash was first reported around 9:20 p.m. The cause and circumstances of the crash have not yet been reported, but it has been determined that the driver was not impaired. The sheriff’s office has yet to determine why the victim was in the roadway.

About Pedestrian Accidents

We offer our sympathies and compassion for the friends and loved ones of the victim. 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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