Longview — Morning Wreck on Loop 281 Kills 1 Person
Posted on Tuesday, January 22nd, 2019 at 8:44 pm
A pair of wrecks occurred on early Tuesday, January 22, 2019, on Loop 281 near Birdsong Street in Longview.
The initial crash happened at approximately 5:38 a.m., according to Longview Police Lt. Shane McCarter. The second one happened a short time later, this time involving a pedestrian who is suspected to have been only trying to help direct traffic after the initial crash.
McCarter reported that one person was killed in the crash, but the identity was not released. There were also a couple of people who were taken to the hospital, but it is unknown the exact number.
The wreck caused all lanes of Loop 281 to be closed for a few hours, but sometime later, they were reopened.
It is unfortunate to hear of the passing of the unidentified victim, but it is even more unfortunate to realize that his life is not the first one that is taken by a car accident. Car accidents are alarmingly common nowadays. In fact, according to the National Highway Traffic Administration (NHTSA), car accidents happen almost every minute of every day, and for every 16 minutes, a car accident occurs that results in death. So that is roughly about 6 million car accidents every year and 90 people dying in car accidents every day in the U.S. alone.
Additionally, the NHTSA also reports that 15% of fatal car accidents happen near intersections while the whopping 85% happen on the open road.
Car accidents are especially deadly for pedestrians. The Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) estimates that the number of pedestrian deaths in the U.S. is about 6,000 in 2017. The number is up by 27% from 2007 to 2016, and it is said that the number in 2017 is a 25-year high.
Studies have shown that there are 5 states that are said to be the worst in terms of pedestrian fatalities. These are California, Florida, New York, Arizona, and Texas. These states accounted for about 43% of pedestrian fatalities during the first half of 2017 even though they are home to only 30% of the U.S. population. The GHSA also reports that children and the elderly are the most vulnerable to this kind of accident.
If you are a victim of a vehicular accident, or you know someone who is, or you lost a loved one because of this, then don’t lose hope. The police will always be there for you, but more than that, car accident lawyers/personal injury lawyers are also willing to help you in protecting your rights and in getting you the justice that you deserve.
