A male pedestrian lost his life during the early hours of Friday, December 4th, following an auto-pedestrian accident on US 167 in White County. According to the crash report by the Arkansas State Police, the victim, identified as Brandon Sheets, 36, of Searcy, was standing on the roadway when the crash occurred.
The police said a Chevrolet traveling southbound on US 167 in Denmark stuck Sheets at about 4:47 a.m. Responding medics rushed him to Unity Health-Searcy, where medical personnel pronounced him dead.
The ASP did not release any additional information on the occurrence or the liability of the Chevrolet driver. The investigation into the auto-pedestrian accident on US 167 remains active.
Auto-pedestrian accidents are not uncommon in Arkansas, and the mortality rate is relatively high. Each year, hundreds of fatalities and different degrees of injuries result from negligent drivers striking unsuspecting pedestrians.
Collisions of this nature happen at any time, and they occur on sidewalks, parking lots, crosswalks, or when people walk down the street. Common causes are speeding, drunk driving, crossing outside the crosswalk, and ignoring traffic signs when crossing or driving through an intersection.
Although fault in auto-pedestrian collisions often falls on the driver of the vehicle, pedestrians sometimes contribute. This often leads to the question of whose fault it was, as each party involved has a responsibility to promote safety at all times by obeying and observing traffic controls, crosswalks, and oncoming traffic.
Once the investigators establish fault, the at-fault party will face a criminal lawsuit depending on whether there were severe injuries or fatalities. A surviving victim can bring a personal injury action to recover damages for the loss suffered, while a fatal victim’s representative can bring a wrongful death lawsuit with the help of an Arkansas car accident attorney.
Source: https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2020/dec/05/pedestrian-killed-by-car-on-us-167/