Denley Angeles, 18, was killed in an Anaheim car accident after she was struck by a vehicle while crossing a busy roadway to catch a bus. According to a news report in The Orange County Register, the fatal pedestrian accident occurred the morning of December 1, 2011 at the intersection of Harbor Boulevard and Katella Avenue. Police say Angeles had just gotten off a bus and was trying to cross the street to catch another bus when a Toyota Camry hit her. Investigators are still looking into who had the right of way at the time. No citations or arrests have been reported. An investigation is ongoing.
I offer my deepest condolences to the family members and friends of Denley Angeles for their tragic, heartbreaking and untimely loss. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.
Pedestrian Accident Statistics
According to California Highway Patrol’s 2009 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there were eight fatalities and 101 injuries involving pedestrian accidents in Anaheim. In Orange County as a whole, 41 people died and 864 were injured due to pedestrian accidents, during the same year.
Right-of-Way Issues
Based on this news report, it appears that Angeles was struck when she was crossing the street at the intersection. However, officials are still looking into whether she was in a crosswalk, or if she had the right of way. Under California law, motorists are required to yield the right of way to pedestrians walking in marked or unmarked crosswalks.
California Vehicle Code Section 21950 states: “The driver of a vehicle shall yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian crossing the roadway within any marked crosswalk or within any unmarked crosswalk at an intersection.” The same section also states that the driver of a vehicle approaching a pedestrian within any marked or unmarked crosswalk “shall exercise all due care and shall reduce the speed of a vehicle or take any other action relating to the operating of the vehicle as necessary to safeguard the safety of the pedestrian.”
Fault and Liability
If the driver is determined to have been at fault here, he or she can be held liable for Angeles’ wrongful death. In such cases, victims’ families would be well advised to contact an experienced Anaheim personal injury lawyer, who will stay on top of the official investigation and make sure that their legal rights and best interests are protected. The best personal injury law firms will always offer a free consultation and comprehensive case evaluation to car accident victims and their families.