A landscaper in Phoenix was killed after he was struck by a pickup truck. The accident occurred the morning of March 26, when two teens were engaged in a street race. According to media accounts, the landscaper could not hear the cars coming down the street over the roar of his lawnmower. The cars were racing down the street towards a stop sign close to where the landscaper was working.
One of the vehicles stopped at the sign, but the other did not. This car slammed into a passing pickup truck. The force of the crash sent the pickup barreling into the landscaper and pinned him underneath the truck. Neighbors recall the crash sounding like a bomb going off.
They also described their dismay when seeing the driver of the car that ran the stop sign walking around unhurt, while the landscaper was literally dying at the scene. He had suffered severe head injuries and was taken to the hospital and was listed in critical condition. Doctor’s tried to stabilize the damage to the man’s brain, but he eventually lost his life.
The tragic event likely brought awareness to the dangers that landscapers face, even though they often go unnoticed in the course of their work. However it also was a reminder of the dangers that street racing poses to pedestrians and other drivers alike.
It remains to be seen whether a wrongful death lawsuit will be brought by the landscaper’s family. If they do, they may be able to recover damages for his future lost wages, pain and suffering and damages for loss of companionship.
Source: AZCentral.com “Phoenix landscaper killed in crash remembered,” Daniel Gonzalez, April 18, 2014