Last month a man was killed as he was walking in the early morning near a disabled car at the Far Northwest Side near O’Hare Airport. The accident happened at approximately 1:35 in the morning on Saturday March 23, in the 5800 block of North Mannheim Road. Police believe that the young woman driving a PT Cruiser south on Mannheim may have been cut off by another vehicle suddenly, causing her to swerve the vehicle from left to right in order to prevent a collision. In doing so she struck a pedestrian and a parked Volvo which was disabled.
According to the Cook County Medical Examiner’s office, the victim of the crash, who remained unidentified by midday, was believed to be in his 40s and died shortly after the accident. Police believe he may have been the owner of the Volvo. The woman remained on the scene and was cooperative with police questioning.
The data regarding accidents occurring off of the roadway, such as this one, may surprise you. The startling numbers from 2009, for example, can be found on page 51, table 28 of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's publication entitled (NHTSA) Traffic Safety Facts 2009.
According to the document, the number of fatal accidents within the categories of "off of roadway" and "on the shoulder," almost equal the amount of those that occur on the roadway: 2,497 (shoulder) + 10,114 (off roadway) compared with 16,906 (on roadway). Out of a total of 30,797 fatal crashes total, this means that accidents off the roadway and on the shoulder account for over 40% of fatal crashes overall.
Here are some general safety tips if your car becomes disabled:
pull off of the roadway completely
put on your hazard lights and pop your hood (the universal signal for distress)
exit from the door opposite of the roadway
if you remain in the vehicle, lock the doors, and keep your seat belt on until help arrives
Pedestrians must remain vigilant and be aware of their surroundings at all times in order to avoid becoming victim of an unexpected injury or untimely death. This is especially true in large metropolitan areas such as Chicago, where there are lots of cars on the road. Unfortunately, those traveling on foot run the risk of becoming the victim of a reckless, distracted, or otherwise negligent driver every time they step outside.
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