Nine pedestrians in Richland and Lexington counties have been struck and killed this year, according to news reports. The South Carolina Highway Patrol is calling the number of pedestrian deaths “alarming.”
The number of pedestrians in metropolitan Columbia killed in the first three months of this year is compared to 14 killed in the two-county area in all of last year.
Nearly a third of the state’s total fatal pedestrian accidents this year have occurred in metropolitan Columbia, according to news reports.
The police department is attributing the number of fatal accidents to the increased number of pedestrians who are walking because of the sluggish economy, rising gasoline prices and inadequate transit systems, according to news reports.
Police said they will be targeting distracted driving, speeding, pedestrian visibility education and lighted pedestrian crosswalks to combat the number of fatal pedestrian accident.
As a Columbia personal injury lawyer, I’m saddened to hear about the alarming number of fatal pedestrian accident. I urge pedestrians to always use designated walkways and sidewalks. Pedestrians should never walk along the shoulder of busy roads.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a pedestrian accident, contact a personal injury lawyer in Columbia.