Brigida De Garcia, 65, was killed in an Anaheim pedestrian accident the morning of May 20, 2009, The Orange County Register reports. De Garcia was crossing Katella Avenue about 40 feet east of the corner of Jean Street to catch a bus to work when a silver Acura traveling west in the number one lane struck her. Police do not believe the driver was speeding and said De Garcia seemed to have crossed the street away from the appropriate corner. The Anaheim pedestrian accident happened at the intersection of Katella and Jean which is not marked with a crosswalk.
My heart goes out to the family and friends of Brigida De Garcia, many of whom actually went to the car crash site immediately after the Anaheim car-pedestrian accident because it was blocks away from her home. The article says family members were not allowed to view her body, which was lying on the concrete and covered in yellow plastic. What a heart-wrenching scene! I offer my deepest sympathies to everyone who knew and loved De Garcia and her family members who went through the trauma of witnessing the car-pedestrian accident site immediately afterward. Please keep them in your prayers.
According to California Highway Patrol’s 2007 traffic accident statistics, there were six fatalities and 63 injuries involving pedestrian accidents in Anaheim. In Orange County as a whole, 41 deaths and 726 injuries were reported as a result of pedestrian accidents in 2007.
In this particular case, officials are saying that De Garcia crossed the street a few feet away from the intersection. However, many commenters to this online news article say this was a pedestrian accident waiting to happen. They say the intersection of Katella and Jean is a dangerous intersection because there are no crosswalks for pedestrians to make their way safely across the street.
The family of Brigida De Garcia would be well advised to consult with a reputed Orange County pedestrian accident attorney, who has experience and a successful track record of pursuing dangerous roadway cases against governmental agencies. If this Anaheim intersection was in fact a dangerous intersection, then the governmental agency can be held liable for this pedestrian accident and De Garcia’s death.
I would question whether the public entity in charge of this roadway knew about the dangers on that roadway. Were there other Orange County pedestrian accidents at or near that same intersection? Skilled personal injury attorneys will be able to investigate this case and determine who should be held responsible. Please remember that any claim against a California governmental agency must be filed within six months of the car-pedestrian accident.