A tragic weekend pedestrian accident in Tulare claimed a man’s life. The Tulare Police Department responded to the scene Sunday afternoon around 5:30 p.m. on January 2, 2022
LGPE-TV reports the collision occurred near Bardsley Street and Spruce Street. Police investigators say a man was trying to cross the street on foot when he was struck. Officers found the victim with major injuries and he was rushed to a nearby hospital where he later died.
Police say the driver of the vehicle involved, a 41-year-old man, showed signs of being under the influence of alcohol or drugs. After evaluation, officers arrested the suspect and booked him on charges involving driving under the influence and vehicular manslaughter.
Tulare County DUI Accident Dangers
Some Tulare County drivers can be careless and reckless and create unmistakable hazards on the road. Unfortunately, those behind the wheel while impaired by drugs or alcohol can sometimes be harder to spot until it’s too late.
Pedestrians can try to make eye contact with cars approaching to make sure they’ve been seen, but impaired drivers can fail to see those on foot and even miss traffic lights.
This irresponsible condition leaves anyone walking, biking, or riding in other vehicles at extreme risk. The problems with drunk driving are seen every year in accident numbers collected by California’s Transportation Injury Mapping System (TIMS).
TIMS recorded 258 accidents involving a drunk driver in Tulare County across 2020. 36 people were killed in those accidents. 337 additional people were injured in drunk driving accidents.
2020 was a year when many people stayed off the roads and quarantined at home, so there’s a good chance that when 2021 DUI accident numbers are tallied, the picture will look even worse. These sad instances of driver irresponsibility only make it more clear that keeping intoxicated drivers off of Tulare County roads is a sure way to save dozens of lives each year.
A Word About Pedestrian Accidents in Tulare…
Families who have lost a loved one in a pedestrian accident may not be aware that they are permitted to seek financial assistance through a wrongful death claim. This support from an at-fault driver’s insurance provider could help with funeral and burial costs and replace the financial support the deceased can no longer provide. You can read more about these claims on my page about Tulare Pedestrian Accidents.
