Pedestrian accidents, both with fatalities and injuries are on the rise in the Coachella Valley and officials are concerned. There has been a rash of hit and run accidents all over California this year and the Coachella Valley has not been immune. But it is the total number of pedestrian accidents, hit and run and otherwise that is causing city leaders to consider what can be done to prevent further death and injury to the desert’s residents.
Fifteen people died in the Coachella Valley in 2013 as pedestrians. It might have been the deadliest year ever. Three died each in Cathedral City, Coachella and Indio; two each in Palm Springs and Desert Hot Springs; and one each in Rancho Mirage and on Interstate 10.
In the past few months however, there has been a rash of accidents involving pedestrians. At least six have been killed and seven seriously injured. Pedestrians failing to look both ways and not wearing light colored or bright clothing, crossing busy streets outside of crosswalks, distracted drivers, and alcohol are thought to be just some of the factors that have been involved in this year’s collisions with pedestrians
. The families who have lost loved ones and their attorneys continue to look for answers.
Palm Springs Pedestrian Accidents, Fatalities and Injuries A Concern
In the past four years, three residents of one mobile home park alone have been hit by vehicles and killed while trying to cross busy streets. In November 2014, a fourth pedestrian was hit at the same intersection.
In 2013, Palm Springs reported two pedestrian fatalities and thirteen injuries. In 2014, there has been at least two deaths and 16 injuries. A sample of the accidents is below.
December 15, 2014 - A woman pedestrian is struck and killed by a vehicle while attempting to cross South Palm Canyon Drive allegedly outside of a crosswalk.
November 8, 2014 - A 60-year old man is hit and killed after being struck by a pickup truck while attempting to cross Ramon Road in Palm Springs. The man was allegedly standing on the median when he was struck.
November 1, 2014 - A woman crossing Ramon Road using a walker is struck allegedly outside of a crosswalk.
August 27, 2014 - A man in a wheelchair is hit by a driver who flees from the scene in Palm Springs. One driver stops to protect him from being hit again. Another, a woman also pulls over, despite going into labor and having contractions about three minutes apart.
July 23, 2014 - A man crossing Indian Canyon Drive is struck by a car.
January 5, 2014 - A male pedestrian is hit by a car right in front of Desert Regional Medical Center and suffers severe head trauma.
Cathedral City Pedestrian Accident Fatalities and Injuries Even More Worrisome
In 2013, Cathedral City reported five pedestrian deaths and fourteen injuries. Just in over a month in 2014, Cathedral City had three collisions with pedestrians with two deaths. Many of the pedestrian fatalities in Cathedral City over the years have been on Ramon Road, three in late 2010 alone. The residents who see people jaywalking across Ramon Road call it Ramon roulette.
December 11, 2014 - A pedestrian is stuck by a car while allegedly running across the road in Cathedral City and suffers major injuries.
November 11, 2014 - An 84-year old man is hit in Cathedral City attempting to cross a road in darkness. The pedestrian later dies.
October 28, 2014 - A woman suffers broken bones and severe facial trauma after she is struck by two vehicles walking along a stretch of Date Palm Drive which has no sidewalk. The first collision is a hit and run and after being hit, the woman is thrown into the roadway between two lanes. The driver of the second car that hits the woman stops and cooperates with the police.
October 22, 2014 - A pedestrian is struck by three separate hit and run vehicles in Cathedral City. He later dies at the hospital.
September 12, 2014 - A pedestrian is fatally hit by a hit and run driver while outside of a crosswalk in Cathedral City.
Some of the 2014 Pedestrian Accidents in Other Coachella Valley Cities
Indio Fatalities
Indio reported four pedestrian deaths in 2013 and nineteen injuries. In 2014, there have been at least 16 injuries and two fatalities. Two of which received considerable publicity.
November 6, 2014 - A pedestrian was killed when he was hit by a pickup truck in Indio. The pedestrian was allegedly wearing dark clothing. There was no crosswalk.
August 9, 2014 - A pedestrian was fatally struck by a vehicle in Indio while crossing the street but allegedly not using a crosswalk.
Coachella Pedestrian Accidents Just in December
December 31, 2014 - A big rig struck a pedestrian in Coachella on New Year’s Eve. He later died at the hospital.
December 1, 2014 - A hit and run driver struck a pedestrian using a crosswalk in Coachella.
Palm Desert Pedestrian Fatalities and Injuries in December 2014
December 30, 2014 - A pedestrian was killed after being stuck by a minivan. It’s the third vehicle versus pedestrian accident in the Coachella Valley in just over 24 hours.
Rancho Mirage Not Immune
February 3, 2014 - A vehicle hits a pedestrian in Rancho Mirage.
Desert Hot Springs Pedestrian Sideswiped
October 4, 2014 - A pedestrian is swiped by a door mirror as he attempts to cross a street outside of a crosswalk.
Bermuda Dunes Hit and Run Pedestrian Accident
August 6, 2014 - A driver flees from the scene after the vehicle drifts to the right shoulder and strikes a pedestrian walking on the shoulder of a street in Bermuda Dunes leaving the pedestrian seriously injured.
Joshua Tree Big Rig vs. Pedestrian Accident
November 1, 2014 - A pedestrian is killed after being hit by a big rig on Hwy 62 in Joshua Tree.
Morongo Valley Pedestrian Fatalities
November 10, 2014 - An elderly man trying to cross Hwy 62 just north of Morongo Valley is struck and killed.
April 29, 2014 - A woman attempting to cross Hwy 62 is hit and killed when she is hit by a car.
Cabazon Pedestrian Fatality
May 30, 2014 - A man allegedly jaywalking across a street in Cabazon is fatally struck by two vehicles. After being stuck the first time, the man lands on the other side of the road and is allegedly struck a second time by a vehicle pulling over.
If you need a personal injury lawyer for a pedestrian accident, or an injury you received in a car, truck, motorcycle or bicycle accident in Palm Springs, Palm Desert, any other city within the Coachella Valley, Orange County, or anywhere on the coast of California, inland or in the desert, call Attorney Sebastian Gibson at (760) 776-1810 or toll free at (855) WHAT NOW. Put the experience of our law firm on your side and protect your rights.
