Jogger Killed by Pickup in OKC, Pedestrian Fatalities on the Rise in US

A jogger was killed Saturday morning, Aug. 10, when a truck struck him near Lake Overholser in Oklahoma City, according to news reports. The man was running near 1500 North County Line when he was hit by a pickup around 7:30 a.m., police said. The driver of the pickup stopped and called 911.

The driver was not ticketed or arrested. The names of the jogger and driver have not been released. Unfortunately, pedestrian fatalities such as this one are on the rise throughout the United States.

According to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) data, 4,432 pedestrians were killed in traffic crashes in 2011, reversing a trend that had seen pedestrian fatalities declining during the previous five years. Pedestrian fatalities decreased by 14 percent from 2000 to 2009. Experts are puzzled by the increase, which comes as road fatalities in most categories are dropping.

On average, a pedestrian was killed every two hours and injured every eight minutes in traffic crashes. An estimated 70,000 pedestrians were injured in 2011.

The fatal collision involving the jogger was typical of pedestrian accidents. Three out of four pedestrian deaths occur in urban areas, most happen on Fridays and Saturdays, most occur on days with no precipitation, and most victims are male (73% in 2011).

A significant percentage of pedestrian fatalities involve alcohol. More than a third (37%) of the pedestrians killed, and 1 in 8 (13%) of the drivers in pedestrian fatalities, had blood alcohol concentrations (BACs) of .08 or higher in 2011, the illegal limit in every state. Either the driver or pedestrian, or both, had some evidence of alcohol use in 47% of all fatal pedestrian crashes.

Concerned by the uptick in fatalities, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), is launching a one-stop shop website www.nhtsa.gov/everyoneisapedestrian with safety tips and resources for local leaders, city planners, parents and others involved in improving pedestrian safety. The program was launched in August.

Tulsa is one of 22 cities targeted by the program’s “Everyone is a Pedestrian” grants. In 2011, eight pedestrians were killed in the city of 400,000, making it among the most dangerous places to walk in the U.S., according to the FHWA. The feds have invited 22 focus cities, where pedestrian crashes are especially prevalent, to apply for the funds. Up to six will be selected to receive grants. The NHTSA says the total number of awards and the funding level of each award will depend on the quality of the proposals submitted for consideration.

If you or a loved one has been injured in an Oklahoma pedestrian accident due to the negligence of another, you may be eligible for compensation to cover your medical bills and other expenses. It is important for injury victims to seek legal advice from an experienced attorney.

The Oklahoma personal injury attorneys at the Law Office of Burch, George & Germany, P.C., are here to help you if you have been in a car crash, motorcycle wreck, truck collision, or other accident. The lawyers at Burch, George & Germany, P.C., help clients in Oklahoma City, Tulsa, and Norman to win their personal injury cases and get the justice and compensation they deserve.

Resources:

• Federal Highway Administration (fhwa.dot.gov/)
• National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (nhtsa.gov)