A man who was killed when debris from a two-car accident struck him was able to heroically protect and shield his wife. The crash occurred at the corner of 43rd and Peoria Avenues in Phoenix. The cause of the crash is still under investigation, and authorities are still unsure of which driver failed to yield before the crash occurred.
It is also unknown what caused the wreckage from the crash to fly toward the sidewalk were the man and his wife were standing. After the accident occurred, the man was immediately taken to the hospital. Authorities indicated that he died from the injuries caused by the wreckage. Meanwhile, his wife only suffered minor injuries.
Further, police reported that two people were ejected from one of the vehicles in the crash. It is unknown whether these passengers were severely injured.
The story illustrates several things to be aware of whether a pedestrian or a driver. First, drivers and passengers should always wear their seatbelts. There are ample studies indicating that seatbelts can save a person’s life because a seatbelt prevents the person from being ejected from a vehicle in the event of a crash.
Second, drivers must use reasonable care while behind the wheel. This means that they must know when to yield the right of way and do so when warranted. Failing to do so could lead to a tragic accident. A driver who had such a duty and failed to use reasonable care could be held liable for the crash.
Lastly, even though this was a freak accident, pedestrians must be aware of their surroundings. While the chances of being hit by debris from an accident are very low, the danger of walking into an intersection at the wrong time is high.