Fresno, CA – According to The Fresno Bee, 41-year-old Rachel Vanderpool of Fresno lost her life after being struck by a vehicle on Tuesday night, November 19, 2024.
The collision occurred around 6:12 PM near Cesar Chavez Boulevard and Third Street. Investigations suggest that Vanderpool may have stepped off the center median into the eastbound lanes of traffic when an oncoming vehicle struck her.
Emergency responders transported Vanderpool to Community Regional Medical Center, where she was later pronounced dead.
The driver involved in the incident remained at the scene and cooperated with investigators. Police stated that impairment does not appear to have been a factor.
The eastbound lanes of Cesar Chavez Boulevard were closed between Second and Third Streets for several hours while officers investigated.
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.
If you or someone you love was harmed in an accident like the one described here, feel free to contact Maison Law for any questions or to receive a no-cost, no-obligation case assessment.
