A crash on Highway 99 took the life of a woman who was apparently walking on the road.
Oscar Miranda, 34, of Live Oak, was driving north on Highway 99 in a 2001 Chevrolet when he suddenly saw a woman on the side of the road. He veered left to avoid hitting her, but the passenger-side mirror hit her in the head. According to the California Highway Patrol, the woman was walking in the northbound lane at the time of the accident.
She was transported to a hospital where she died of her injuries after the driver used his vehicle to block traffic and called for help. She has not been identified beyond the fact that she was 79 years old and came from Live Oak. Police do not believe drugs or alcohol were involved in the crash.
Pedestrian Crashes Kill Dozens Each Year
Every year, dozens of pedestrians are killed in and around the Sacramento area. According to the latest statistics from the California Highway Patrol’s Statewide Integrated Traffic Reporting System, the following pedestrian fatalities and injuries occurred in the counties and cities surrounding Sacramento in 2011:
| Location | Pedestrians Injured | Pedestrians Killed |
| Sacramento County | 375 | 29 |
| Citrus Heights | 20 | 0 |
| Elk Grove | 21 | 1 |
| Folsom | 5 | 0 |
| Galt | 4 | 0 |
| Rancho Cordova | 178 | 14 |
| Sacramento (City) | 135 | 14 |
| Sutter County | 4 | 0 |
| Live Oak | 4 | 0 |
| Yuba City | 19 | 1 |
| Yolo County | 36 | 3 |
| Davis | 12 | 1 |
| West Sacramento | 12 | 1 |
| Winters | 2 | 0 |
| Woodland | 8 | 1 |
These numbers show that, while not common, pedestrian fatalities and injuries still happen at an alarming rate.
What is even more frightening is the death tolls for pedestrian accidents. While injuries are more common, as the statistics show, victims are far more likely to die in a pedestrian crash if they are walking than if they are a passenger in the car.
What Should I Do If I Am Injured in A Pedestrian Accident?
If you are injured in a pedestrian accident, contact a Sacramento pedestrian injury attorney immediately. A personal injury attorney may be able to give you advice on how to recover damages from the person who hit you, including payment of medical bills, sums for lost wages and money for your pain and suffering.
