On 500 North in Provo, there is a new luxury student apartment complex, The Village. Foot and vehicle traffic has increased substantially since its opening, however, the streets are not well-lit, and young Provo residents often find themselves at risk.
Unfortunately, sometimes accidents are made worse by the driver fleeing the scene – a hit and run. On Wednesday, December 12, a 22-year-old BYU student was crossing 500 North at 300 East in Provo when she was struck by an SUV, leaving her with a fractured skull which necessitated a hospital stay. The driver of the dark blue BMW-brand SUV did not stop to assist the student, but plenty of debris was found at the scene.
Almost 1 in 5 pedestrian deaths are hit and run scenarios. The young and the elderly are disproportionately likely to be victims of a pedestrian crash accident. Five- to nine-year-olds and those over seventy are more likely than other groups to be hit and killed by a car while walking.
Speed is a factor in pedestrian deaths. A pedestrian hit at 40 mph has an 85 percent chance of being killed, while at 20 mph, the fatality rate drops to 5 percent. The area south of BYU campus is known for drivers breaking the speed limit. Using common sense to decrease your speed while driving through residential neighborhoods, which are likely to have people walking, decreases your chance of hitting a pedestrian.
The personal injury lawyers at Christensen & Hymas extend their condolences to any victim of a hit and run accident in Utah. It’s cowardly, it’s illegal, and it’s just plain wrong. We wish the young woman a speedy recovery. Any witnesses with information should call Provo police at 801-852-6210.