In the middle of last week, a store clerk in the state’s capital made a call to police because a man was causing a disturbance in the store. Not long after that the man ran from the store into the road near Providence Hospital in Columbia and was struck and killed by a firetruck, according the South Carolina Highway Patrol. There was another man hit by the truck, but he did not incur serious injuries and was promptly treated and released.
The Fire Chief Aubrey Jenkins of the Columbia Fire Department said the truck was responding to a hazardous-materials call and the unit had both their lights and sirens on at the time of fatal pedestrian accident. The collision occurred around 11:30 p.m. and Charleston auto accident lawyers took note that a Post and Courier article mentions that both the men hit by the truck were dressed entirely in dark clothing, making them extremely hard to see in the middle of the night.
South Carolina State Troopers are still looking into the incident, but it seems hard to find the Columbia Fire Department at fault in this incident. As mentioned before, the men were dressed in all dark clothing and there was a call placed that these gentlemen were causing a disturbance in the area just prior to their being hit. Drivers are always suppose to be mindful of pedestrians, but the two men were not at a legal cross walk, their attire made them nearly impossible to see, and truck was in the middle of a serious response.
Pedestrian accidents are very common in South Carolina and throughout the United States. Both pedestrians and drivers have duties to each other in regard to how they conduct themselves to ensure they do not cause injury or death. When walking on any street, whether it be a busy highway or a residential neighborhood, pedestrians should be aware of their surroundings and be prepared to take evasive action in the event that a car, truck, or any other vehicle should leave the roadway and present danger to them. Likewise, drivers should be aware of their surroundings and alert to the fact that pedestrians often walk in roadways and in areas where pedestrians are not always expected. Being more aware of our surroundings, as drivers and pedestrians, can help prevent serious accidents, injuries, and deaths.