Turlock, CA — A man lost his life late Thursday night, August 22, 2024, after being struck by multiple vehicles on southbound Highway 99 near Turlock, according to CBS13.
The incident occurred just before midnight, around 11:55 PM, when California Highway Patrol (CHP) officers were called to the scene following reports of a person in the roadway. Initial information suggested that the man had been sitting in the number three lane of southbound Highway 99, just south of Taylor Road.
Authorities believe that the man was first struck by an oncoming vehicle. Unfortunately, several other vehicles also collided with him immediately after. The extent of the man’s injuries was severe, and he was pronounced dead at the scene.
CHP has not yet identified any of the vehicles involved, and it remains unclear how many motorists might have struck the man. The stretch of Highway 99 where the incident occurred is a heavily trafficked area, particularly at night, with limited visibility due to sparse street lighting and the high speeds typical on the freeway.
The man’s identity has not yet been released as authorities work to notify his family. Investigators are still trying to determine why he was on the freeway and what might have led him to sit in the lane. The investigation is ongoing, with authorities exploring all potential factors, including whether drugs or alcohol played a role in the incident.
Pedestrian Fatalities and Wrongful Death Claims
Motorists bear an added responsibility, known as the “Duty of Care,” towards pedestrians due to their heightened vulnerability in car accidents, often leading to pedestrian fatalities.
For those who have lost someone in a vehicular fatality, a Wrongful Death claim, made with the help of an experienced personal injury attorney, can provide compensation to alleviate the financial strain of laying their loved one to rest.
Partial Liability in Pedestrian Accidents
California Law does not consider pedestrians to have the right-of-way under all circumstances, such as if they attempt to cross outside of a crosswalk. However, motorists are never relieved of the expectation to provide pedestrians with a Duty of Care toward their safety.
It may therefore be determined that a motorist is held only partially liable in a pedestrian accident. If that is the case, they would be financially responsible for the victim’s recovery costs in proportion to their degree of liability.
