Washington State’s highways are dangerous places. With a number of large, heavy objects moving along at high speeds, the scene is set for tragedy to strike at any second. While cars crashing into each other is bad enough, the danger is even higher when a pedestrian is involved. As most highways are not meant for pedestrians, they lack sidewalks and other features that tend to lend themselves to keeping people safe while on foot. When an emergency happens and one is forced to walk along a highway, tragic consequences can result.
This was the case on Easter Sunday for a man who apparently ran out of gas and was walking near an off-ramp at the junction of two nearby state highways. A Ford Crown Victoria allegedly hit the man as he walked along the shoulder of the road. The 39-year-old was found dead at the scene. The white car fled the scene and witnesses said it headed toward Seattle, leaving its bumper and a side-view mirror at the site of the hit-and-run.
The Crown Victoria’s destination seems to have been confirmed when police were notified that a car matching the description had been set alight in Seattle after midnight a few days later. Authorities have since verified that the vehicle is the one suspected to have been involved in the fatal accident. The driver of the hit-and-run car has not yet been located, but police are confident that the burning of the car will not hinder the investigation of the accident.
While walking along the highway may not be ideal, it should not be a death sentence if an emergency occurs. Death in an accident is sudden and it often has wide-ranging effects on many people other than the deceased. The loss of a loved ones’ companionship, earning potential and other assets deserves legal compensation when a negligent driver is at fault. While money won’t bring back the dead, it may help families find closure and help them deal with the loss that has occurred.
Source: komonews.com, “Car found torched in Seattle involved in deadly Auburn hit-and-run,” April 19, 2017