Driver kills pedestrian in Naperville after running red light

Lack of skid marks suggests driver was not paying attention to the road

A young woman and her dog were struck and killed in a pedestrian accident in Naperville last month, according to the Naperville Patch. The accident happened after the driver allegedly ran a red light. Analysts and witnesses say the area was well lit and that the woman was in the middle of crossing at a crosswalk at the time of the accident.

Young woman killed

The 22-year-old woman, who was described as an animal and adventure lover, was out walking her dog, a greyhound rescue, in Naperville on the evening of November 9. While crossing at the intersection of Rickert Drive and Book Road, she was struck by a 75-year-old driver.

Both the woman and the dog were killed in the accident. The family of the woman say they are waiting for the results of an investigation to decide what steps they will take next. In the meantime, they are asking both drivers and pedestrians to take care when out on the streets.

Driver not paying attention

All indications, however, point to this accident being a result of the driver not paying attention to the road. According to the Chicago Tribune, he has been cited for failing to exercise due care and disobeying a traffic signal. The woman’s family expressed disappointment that the citations, so far, are the only punishments the driver faces.

Witnesses at the scene said that there were no skid marks, suggesting that the driver had not even noticed there was a red light. The site of the accident, however, is well lit, which further suggests that the motorist may either have been distracted or was simply not paying attention to his surroundings. Records also show the driver has received other citations in the past, including one for disobeying a traffic signal and two for speeding. Furthermore, he was named in a suit and countersuit in connection to another accident in 2001.

Legal advice

When cars and pedestrians collide, as the above story shows, it is almost always the pedestrian who suffers the most. Drivers have a responsibility to make sure they obey all traffic rules, including stopping at red lights and stops signs, in order to protect those who are out walking.

For those who have been injured in a pedestrian or other type of motor vehicle accident, it is important to reach out for help. An experienced personal injury attorney, for example, can advise victims of such accidents about what legal options they may have at hand, including the possibility of pursuing further damages against any allegedly negligent driver.