On July 17, 2012, a five-year-old boy was struck by a neighbor backing out of his driveway. The accident occurred at 7:17 p.m. The little boy was riding his scooter and wearing a helmet at the time of the accident. However, he passed away later on that night due to his injuries.
The Santa Clara District Attorney’s office was notified on the child’s death, per protocol. The driver has been cooperating with investigators and detectives did not believe that drugs or alcohol played a role in the collision. According to the NHTSA, most young children who are hit by motor vehicles are injured near their home or on neighborhood streets. Children are vulnerable for the following reasons:
- Often act before they think;
- Often make the mistake of thinking the driver can see them;
- Can’t judge speed or the distance;
- Think that cars can stop instantly;
- They are difficult to see when behind a backing vehicle.
In 2009, There were a total of 4, 092 pedestrian fatalities. 244 (6%) of those fatalities were children in the age group of 14-and-younger. 159 of the 244 pedestrians were males (65%). It was also estimated that 59,000 pedestrians were injured and that 13,000 of those injuries were in the age group of 14-and-younger. 55% of the 13,000 were male pedestrians. The highest percentage of fatalities among the 14-and-younger pedestrians occurred between 4 p.m. and 7:59 p.m.
Source:
http://www.mercurynews.com/portal/cupertino/ci_21101696/cupertino-boy-5-dies-after-being-struck-by?source=rss&_loopback=1
https://www.nhtsa.gov/parents-and-caregivers