Car Fatally Strikes Pedestrian Near Orlando on OBT
An investigation is underway into the death of a pedestrian after they were struck and killed by a vehicle in early December while attempting to cross Orange Blossom Trail. After the incident was reported to authorities, members of the Florida Highway Patrol were among the first responders to arrive. It is from their reports on the incident that we currently have the most comprehensive information surrounding the fatal accident.
The pedestrian, whose name and age were not supplied in the initial report, was walking along Orange Blossom Trail shortly after 5:00 on the morning of Tuesday, December 15th, when they neared the intersection of OBT and Premier Row. This intersection lies close to the city limits of Orlando. It is also fairly close to a popular Florida shopping mall. Unfortunately, what this area does not possess is a crossing walk or any sort of pedestrian safety features.
The pedestrian had not yet reached the intersection when they decided to try and cross the road. As a result, the cars traveling along OBT at this early hour of the morning were not expecting the presence or possibility of a pedestrian suddenly before them. This is exactly what happened to a 22-year-old individual from Jacksonville who told authorities that the pedestrian appeared out of nowhere in the dark. The driver was not able to avoid the pedestrian and the car struck the man on foot while still traveling at a fairly high rate of speed.
The driver of the car remained at the scene of the crash while the emergency response crews were notified and police, EMTs and paramedics all rushed to the area. When they arrived, the police quickly cordoned off the scene, redirecting traffic while the medical personnel tended to the badly injured pedestrian. Sadly, the severity of the injuries that the man sustained were beyond the scope of any immediate medical attention. They were declared dead at the scene shortly after the medical teams arrived.
As stated above, the driver remained at the crash site during the preliminary investigation, and it is believed that they were cooperating with the authorities. Charges are not currently pending.
Source:
James O. Cunningham
Since 1977, personal injury lawyer James Cunningham has provided effective legal advocacy to people who are injured through the negligent actions of another person or entity throughout the Central Florida area. He fights to obtain recoveries for his clients’ physical and emotional pain and suffering and pursues his clients’ personal injury cases with a commitment to excellence and impeccable preparation.
