A tragic car accident has left a high school freshman dead in San Jose, California, after she was struck by a truck near her school. The incident was just one of several serious pedestrian accidents throughout the area in late November that included at least two other fatalities.
Official reports show that the 14-year-old girl, who attended James Lick High School, was struck by a vehicle as she crossed the street at about 8 p.m. on Nov. 24. The girl had made it about halfway across the street, and a driver in the southbound lanes had stopped to let her go when she was struck by a driver who apparently did not see her. The young woman was alone at the time of the wreck.
It is not clear whether any criminal charges will be filed in connection with the accident since the driver of the Mazda minivan stayed at the scene to assist investigators. The girl's family said that she was declared brain dead shortly after the collision. She remains on life support pending organ donation, which they believe would have been her wish.
A rash of other pedestrian accidents in the area also left a 3-year-old child dead on Nov. 24 as he was being pushed across the street in a stroller by a 13-year-old family member. The driver in that case failed to yield to the children as they crossed the street on their way to a nearby park.
Even though we teach our children to take care while crossing the street, little can be done by parents to prevent inattentive drivers from plowing into these young victims. Drivers who cause such wrecks may not be subject to criminal consequences, but they should be held accountable for their actions in civil court. Family members of such victims may be able to recover financial compensation for wrongful death, loss of consort and a variety of other civil claims.
Source: www.insidebayarea.com, "San Jose: Organs of James Lick High student hit by car will be donated" Robert Salonga, Nov. 26, 2013