California Injury Blog
Kevin Jiang, 9, was killed in a bicycle accident in Irvine after he was struck by a van while riding his bike home from school. According to a report in The Orange County Register, the fatal bicycle accident occurred at Roosevelt and Bay Tree the afternoon of November 20, 2015. Neighbors have posted handmade signs at the intersection pleading with drivers to slow down at the location.
Police say Roosevelt usually has many children walking to Cypress Village Elementary School where Kevin was a student. The Irvine Police Department is investigating the crash.
This tragic crash has apparently struck a nerve in the community. Hundreds of mourners gathered the night of November 22, 2015 in the Cypress Village neighborhood, just down the street from where the boy was struck and killed.
Kevin came from China six months ago with his parents. Our heartfelt condolences go out to the family members of Kevin Jiang. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.
Crash Statistics
According to California Highway Patrol’s 2013 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there were no fatalities, but 57 injuries reported as a result of bicycle accidents in the city of Irvine.
In Orange County as a whole, nine people died and 1,309 were injured due to bicycle accidents during the same year. Also, countywide, 165 fatalities and 13,837 injuries were reported as a result of traffic accidents in 2013.
What Caused This Collision?
Based on this news report, it is unclear as to what caused this tragic collision. There are several unanswered questions here. Whose fault was the accident? Was the driver under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs? Did driver distraction or inattention play a part in this collision?
Neighbors say there is a problem with vehicles speeding in the neighborhood where a number of children walk or bike to school. Was speed a factor in this collision?
We trust officials are looking into these and other issues in order to determine precisely what caused this crash.
Preventing Accidents Near Schools
Motorists, pedestrians and bicyclists must take adequate precautions to ensure that collisions do not occur in busy school zones. Here are a few tips from our Irvine personal injury lawyers:
• Pedestrians should walk only in marked or unmarked crosswalks and in areas designated for pedestrians. Children should be taught not to run across the street and to make eye contact when they cross the roadway.
• Bicyclists should exercise care and caution. If children are riding their bikes to and from school, parents should explain all the rules of the road to them. Bicyclists have the same rights and responsibilities as drivers of other vehicles under California law.
• Motorists must stick to the speed limit especially near school zones where children may be walking or riding their bikes. Drivers should also stop and yield to pedestrians in marked and unmarked crosswalks and at intersections where pedestrians are crossing.
• Whether you are a pedestrian, bicyclist or driver, be sure to devote 100 percent of your attention to the road. Do not walk, bike or drive while distracted.