One Less Pedestrian
14th Street is closed between F and G Streets due to a pedestrian vs. truck accident.
Bystanders say the pedestrian was killed but no one knows who was at fault.
Right about now DC drivers will start to blame the person crossing the street.
Car free DC would like to remind you that cars must yield the right of way to pedestrians in the District.
Also, condolences to all parties involved. Its no way to start a week.
From the picture, it looks like the truck was travelling South on 14th at G NW. This is a dangerous intersection because the North-bound traffic on 14th stops, giving the South-bound traffic a Left arrow. The non-turning South-bound traffic continues to have a green light. Pedestrians sometimes mistake the stopping North-bound traffic as an opportunity to cross, and step directly into the (green lighted) South-bound lanes. And yes, the truck should have yielded.
I walked past less than minute after this happened and a couple of eyewitnesses said that’s exactly what happened (with regard to the left arrow). I’ve made that mistake several times while waiting to cross at that corner myself. Not to point blame either way, but even if I was the woman’s fault, vehicles need to be more aware in heavily pedestrian areas like this. It was an incredibly gruesome scene left behind that shows you what a mismatch a 200 pound human and a 10,000+ pound truck can be.
Correction: the DC law now requires that cars come to a complete stop for pedestrians–not simply yield.
there is also a notion of speed
people need to realize
that even if the pedestrian was in the wrong
excessive speed may take the situation from injury to fatality
FYI, she is still alive.