Fatal Crash Kills Pedestrian
Police in Nashville are turning to the community to help find answers about a fatal car crash that killed a pedestrian on Interstate 40. James Garvey, 24, was killed early last Sunday morning at around 3:45 a.m. when two vehicles slammed into him while he was walking along the interstate near the Nashville International Airport.
It is unclear why Mr. Garvey, a young soldier recently back from Afghanistan, was walking on that stretch of the interstate, and police did not find his car nearby. He recently returned from active duty in September, where he did a tour in Afghanistan and flew Apache gunships.
What the authorities have pieced together is that Mr. Garvey was walking alongside the eastbound lanes of Interstate 40 when he was first struck by a Chevrolet Cavalier and then by another vehicle. The driver of the Cavalier told police that by the time that he saw Mr. Garvey he could not stop his car in time. The second vehicle that struck him never stopped.
Mr. Garvey unfortunately died at the scene as a result of the trauma from the accident. Police are now searching for the second vehicle that struck James Garvey in addition to a gray Nissan Xterra parked on the shoulder of the interstate nearby where the accident took place. Police are hoping that someone with information about these vehicles or that has knowledge about Mr. Garvey’s whereabouts earlier in the evening will come forward with information.
Tennessee Pedestrian Accidents
According to the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, in 2013 there were a total of 1,331 pedestrians injured or killed in accidents across the state. In 2014, there have already been 941 pedestrian accidents reported. These numbers exclude parking lot or private property crashes as well as accidents that caused less than $400 in damage. This means that the true number of pedestrian accidents in Tennessee could be much higher.
Both pedestrians and drivers owe each other a duty of care on the roads, but drivers are far less likely to see pedestrians near the roads. This type of accident commonly results in traumatic and devastating injuries or death for the pedestrians involved, but very few drivers or their passengers are ever seriously hurt. A few common causes of driver negligence in pedestrian accidents include:
- Distracted driving;
- Speeding;
- Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs;
- Failing to yield the right of way;
- Failing to obey traffic signals;
- Failing to signal when turning;
- Disregarding weather or traffic conditions;
…and other negligent driving practices that lead to pedestrian accidents on the roads.
Call a Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Today
The results of a pedestrian accident are often devastating for both the victim and their family. If you or someone that you know has been injured in a pedestrian accident in the Nashville area let the personal injury lawyers at Calhoun Law, PLC help. Reach out to us today to speak about your potential case.