The Bay Area is a cradle of environmentalism and a region with a rich trove of health and medical research and resources. In this blog, we’ll report on the deepening understanding of how the places we inhabit and the lifestyles we adopt contribute to our own health and the health of our communities.
A 31-year-old woman was struck first around 7 a.m. Wednesday as she crossed Bluebell Drive near the Springtown Library, said Sgt. John Hurd.
A westbound car stopped to let her cross, but another approaching driver tried to pass that car as it stopped, and struck the woman before she reached the curb. The woman suffered a broken leg.
In the second incident, the 53-year-old man was crossing Fourth Street near South J Street on Thursday when a westbound vehicle struck him.
Both his legs were broken but he is expected to survive. The drivers in both incidents stopped at the scene to assist the victims and cooperated with police.
Hurd said injury collisions involving pedestrians have been on the rise in Livermore in recent years, from 10 in 2009 to 17 in 2010 and 18 in 2011. Fortunately, no pedestrians have been killed since July 13, 2008, when a pedestrian was hit as he ran across East Avenue near Jensen Street.
Police are reminding drivers to take extra caution and watch for pedestrians when approaching crosswalks and intersections, and to yield to pedestrians when they enter crosswalks.
Drivers should watch closely for pedestrians, particularly in residential areas, in school zones where children may run out into the road, and in the evening.
Pedestrians, in turn, are reminded to cross at designated crosswalks and assume drivers cannot see you until you make eye contact. Once in the crosswalk, continue to watch for approaching cars, and when in doubt, yield to traffic.
© The Bay Citizen, 2012
