A 34-year-old Elk Grove man tragically died Monday night when he was struck by a car while crossing the street in a marked crosswalk, the Sacramento Bee reported. The August 16th accident occurred at the intersection of Elk Grove Boulevard and Waterman Road at about 9 p.m. The victim, identified by the Sacramento County Coroner as Eric Vernon Hayman, 34, of Elk Grove, was crossing the street within a crosswalk when he was struck by a black Honda del Sol travelling southbound on Waterman Road.
The 18-year-old man driving the Honda, who was not identified, pulled over after striking Hayman. Hayman was taken to a nearby hospital where he died of his injuries. Anyone with information regarding this collision is asked to contact Elk Grove Police at (916) 478-8148.
Cause of the Fatal Pedestrian Accident
Elk Grove Police are investigating the cause of the fatal accident. Based on the limited information provided in news reports, it is not clear why the 18-year-old driver of the Honda was not able to stop the vehicle. Was he speeding or distracted? Police reportedly ruled out drugs or alcohol as possible factors, and the driver was not cited at the scene of the crash. Law enforcement is surely investigating all possible causes to determine exactly what happened. The law regarding pedestrian right of way at crosswalks can be found in the California Vehicle Code Section 21950: "The driver of a vehicle shall yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian crossing the roadway within any marked crosswalk or within any unmarked crosswalk at an intersection..."
Pedestrian Accidents and Wrongful Death Liability
If the driver of the Honda is determined to be responsible for this fatal Elk Grove pedestrian accident, he may be held liable for the death of Eric Hayman. In cases such as this one, where negligence may be a factor in a fatal accident, the family members of the victim would be well-advised to contact a skilled and knowledgeable northern California pedestrian accident lawyer. Accidents where pedestrians are killed within a marked crosswalk have unique legal issues. An experienced attorney can help the victim's family understand and protect their rights, and if negligence was a factor in the crash, an attorney can help the victim's family recover the compensation they may be entitled to for their loss in a California wrongful death claim.
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