Pinellas County, FL (September 8, 2018) - A pedestrian suffered critical injuries after being struck by a vehicle on Friday. William Zitzelberger, 41, was walking across Oakhurst Road near the intersection with 105 Avenue N just before 6:00 pm.
The Florida Highway Patrol reports that Zitzelberger walked into the path of a Honda CR-V driven by 89 year old Edward McDonald. Paramedics treated Zitzelberger on scene for serious injuries sustained in the collision. He was then transported to Bayfront Health where he is currently listed in critical condition with life-threatening injuries.
There is no information on whether Zitzelberger was in a crosswalk or otherwise had the right of way at the time he was struck. Further, there is no word on whether charges have been issued to McDonald for his role in the crash.
The Florida Highway Patrol continues to investigate.
Florida has high numbers of pedestrian incidents. In the first half of 2016, nearly 300 people were struck by vehicles. This number puts our state near the top of the nationwide numbers in terms of pedestrian accidents.
With pedestrian-related accidents on the rise, it is important for drivers to keep in mind that they must always be aware and alert to their surroundings while driving. A moment of distraction can lead to an accident with irreversible consequences. Pedestrians must also be mindful of drivers and ensure that they only cross streets and highways when it is safe to do so. Pedestrians should walk as far away from the roadway as possible.
Further investigation will reveal the ultimate cause of this crash. In the meantime, we sincerely hope for the victim to have a full recovery from his injuries.
At Rubenstein Law, our pedestrian accident attorneys can help when you have been hurt in a crash that was not your fault. To discuss your case with one of our attorneys, give us a call at 1-800 FL-Legal.
Rubenstein Law is dedicated to serving individuals & families injured by the negligence of others. We know first-hand the heartbreak that can be left behind after an accident. In our news blog, we write about cases of personal injury relevant to our line of work, and we report on news of judgments and appellate cases that affect the rights of personal injury claimants. We feel a responsibility to raise awareness of the injury and tragic loss of life occurring across our state every day.
Note: These posts are created using publicly available (secondary) sources, information has not been independently verified. If you see information that should be corrected, please bring it to our attention and we will make adjustments
