Walla Walla, Washington – Young Woman Hospitalized After Getting Struck by Car

Walla Walla, Washington (January 24, 2020) – A young woman was taken to the hospital after getting struck by a car in area of North 2nd Street and East Moore Street on Friday morning. According to the article from KEPR News, 19 year-old Chase Mcclurg was transported to an area hospital, and no further word has been given regarding her condition. The car driver, Paul Winters, was not reported to have been injured in the incident.

According to the information from the Walla Walla Police Department, Mcclurg was going south in the roadway approaching the bike lane on North 2nd Avenue near the Highway 12 underpass. Around 6:15 a.m., Mcclurg was struck by Winter’s car, which was also heading south on North 2nd Avenue. The incident caused the roadway to be closed off for about three hours. The Washington State Patrol was also brought in to investigate the incident.

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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