According to Salinas police, a 63-year-old man on a wheelchair was attempting to cross Main Street when he was hit by a vehicle. The pedestrian was not in a marked or unmarked crosswalk at the time of the impact
Salinas, CA – A man on a wheelchair was struck and killed by a vehicle while crossing a street in Salinas on Sunday night, according to the Salinas Police Department.
The deadly incident transpired on South Main Street near Winham Street on Sunday, December 28.
According to Salinas police, a 63-year-old man on a wheelchair was attempting to cross Main Street when he was hit by a vehicle. The pedestrian was not in a marked or unmarked crosswalk at the time of the impact.
Authorities declared the pedestrian deceased at the scene of the accident.
The involved motorist was at the scene when the authorities arrived and was cooperative with the investigators.
Salinas police reported that driver impairement was determined to have not played any role in the accident.
No additional details on the crash were immediately released. The Salinas Police Department is investigating the accident.
Salinas, being the county seat of Monterey County, largely contributes to the high number of accidents in the county yearly. There were 2,362 people killed or injured in fatal and injury-related traffic accidents in Monterey County in 2022, according to the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS). 84 victims were injured or killed while riding bikes, and 151 victims were on foot. Nearly 10% of the traffic-related injuries that year were suffered by non-vehicle operators. Pedestrian and bicyle collisions have risen in general in California since 2014 and peaked between 2021 and 2023, highlighting the need for more empasis on pedestrian and bicycle rider safety. There is need for continued sensitization and introduction of stringent measures to help curb the rising cases of traffic-related injuries and fatalities.
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