Car Stopped to Let Children Cross Street Struck From Behind

unnamed-2

Emergency personnel extract an elderly woman from her vehicle while a firefighter interviews the driver of the dark sedan. [Photos provided by a reader]

At approximately 5:30 p.m. a woman driving a light colored hatchback stopped to let school children use the crosswalk at the corner of California and Harris in Eureka, according to a witness.

A man driving a dark sedan struck her car from behind. No children were injured but the woman driving the first car was taken by ambulance to the hospital.

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Firefighter atop an engine that responded to the accident.

 

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63 Comments
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Bill
Guest
Bill
7 years ago

That’s what you call paying NOT attention to your driving.
I’m always fearful of this happening anytime I stop for someone in a crosswalk.
I’m sure that speed and/or tailgating was a factor.

Henchman Of Justice
Guest
Henchman Of Justice
7 years ago
Reply to  Bill

What if this collission is the fault of the car that stopped?

Often, pedestrians are not in the crosswalk because they are waiting on sidewalk for traffic to flow an go away.

Often, HOJ stands on the concrete corner and a vehicle just stops…..kind gesture, but illegal driving.

Law does not say yield to pedestrians NOT WITHIN CROSSWALK……until peds are in crosswalk, keep driving.

Proof
Guest
Proof
7 years ago

California Vehicle Code automatically faults the driver who rear ends the other – either following too closely, going too fast (or both) or being inattentive while operating a motor vehicle. Had the driver of the first vehicle failed to stop for the children at the cross walk, she could have been cited.

Henchman Of Justice
Guest
Henchman Of Justice
7 years ago
Reply to  Proof

Wrong.

HOJ knows of several situations that defy the law.

Impaired driver in front.

Brake lights not fully functional

ETC.

Theoretically, manmade laws have too many flaws, and politicians lie about effects of laws too.

6TL84
Guest
6TL84
7 years ago
Reply to  Proof

“The Vehicle Code ‘automatically’ faults the driver who rear ends the other”? Really?

What code section says that, please? As HOJ suggests, there can be any number of causal factors in a traffic accident and the apparent fault depends on the totality of the circumstances. Oftentimes both parties can be at fault.

Jackie
Guest
Jackie
7 years ago
Reply to  6TL84

They made it my husband’s fault when a man stopped on freeway for deer with no brake lights.

hmm
Guest
hmm
7 years ago

If you are waiting for a pause in traffic, you need to stand away from the curb.

Me
Guest
Me
7 years ago
Reply to  Bill

Unfortunately, the best thing you can do for pedestrians (especially children) is not stop to let them cross. Just because you’re are paying attention, doesn’t me everyone else is. One-ways are the worst cuz the car in one lane will stop and the other lane won’t. See it all the time

Ken H
Guest
Ken H
7 years ago
Reply to  Me

the law says stop.
don’t let other cars tailgate: stop, turn, pull over..especially if they are too distracting and or appear to be inattentive. You have to drive your own car, if another driver is endangering you and the other drivers and pedestrians ahead, take action to eliminate the threat.

Luckily the pedestrians were’t hit by the car that stopped.

This happens all the dam time, all over…especially at school time. kids just go and jitterbug around, it is very tricky to drive when schools out, low sun etc etc..

Henchman Of Justice
Guest
Henchman Of Justice
7 years ago
Reply to  Me

A driver who stops is not paying attention, that is the problem.

TM May
Guest
TM May
7 years ago

What are you talking about? You sound quite confused.

TC
Guest
TC
7 years ago
Reply to  Bill

Me too! sometimes i cant stop for crosswalkers because the car behind me is so close, if i did i would for sure get rammed,,,ugh

Roy
Guest
Roy
7 years ago

How does what looks like a pretty minor fender-bender from the rear lead to elderly woman being “extracted” from her vehicle?

Shana
Guest
Shana
7 years ago
Reply to  Roy

Likely that her door was jammed and they were acting with ‘an abundance of caution’ in case of neck or spinal injury.

Henchman Of Justice
Guest
Henchman Of Justice
7 years ago
Reply to  Roy

Elderly people are cunning and shrewd at manipulating their health insiurance…….

youneedtostop
Guest
youneedtostop
7 years ago

Hey Jeff Lytle, you are not funny, nor a Henchman of Justice.

Henchman Of Justice
Guest
Henchman Of Justice
7 years ago
Reply to  youneedtostop

Elderly people are wise at manipulation when they want to be…….more sensitive version.

Example: too many to list

Be Good
Guest
Be Good
7 years ago

You are a negative vibe merchant. Something has happened to you to be so negative. Try to get some new perspective in your life. Everything isn’t so doom and gloom.

Lone ranger
Guest
Lone ranger
7 years ago
Reply to  Roy

10 mph or less impact, rear hatch window not even broke, start it up and drive it home, no need for emergency services

hmm
Guest
hmm
7 years ago
Reply to  Roy

Newer cars are made to crumple at the slightest impact.

Shana
Guest
Shana
7 years ago

I hope her injuries are minor and that she’s completely recovered soon.
And thank goodness she had stopped – the nitwit that hit her car might as easily hit the children she stopped for.

Julianne
Guest
Julianne
7 years ago
Reply to  Shana

Thank you for saying that. It is absolutely true. We could have been reading about a much worse situation this evening if the dark sedan had hit the children walking in the crosswalk made for them–and others. All the best to the person recovering. And thank you for stopping for the children. ♥

Henchman Of Justice
Guest
Henchman Of Justice
7 years ago
Reply to  Julianne

The story does not state factually if the kids were waiting to enter as opposed to already have entered prior to woman stopping.

Ya dont stop for any ped who is on the corner but not within sidewalk.

Proof
Guest
Proof
7 years ago

School zone, 25 mph.

Romolobo
Guest
Romolobo
7 years ago
Reply to  Proof

True.
Speed limit is 25 with children present.
Harris St needs flashing lights on crosswalks like the ones on Harris and K, at the liquor store.

Henchman Of Justice
Guest
Henchman Of Justice
7 years ago
Reply to  Proof

School zone or speed limit has nothing to do with stopping for no person within a sidewalk.

hmm
Guest
hmm
7 years ago

No, that’s not how the law works. Thats kind of thinking (not thinking) is why people in Eureka are forced to walk out in front of traffic,, if they ever want to cross the street.

Henchman Of Justice
Guest
Henchman Of Justice
7 years ago
Reply to  Shana

Um, that means she woulda ran down the kids first.

Rosemarie von Boomhower
Guest
Rosemarie von Boomhower
7 years ago

Henchman you have one negative attitude.

Mike
Guest
Mike
7 years ago

He enjoys spreading his own dismal outlook on topics and personal negativity to all of us. He feeds off our responses to his nauseating point of view on the topics of the moment. Most forums have at least one like him.

Henchman Of Justice
Guest
Henchman Of Justice
7 years ago
Reply to  Mike

Or Mike,

it could be the dismal society portrayed that is reflective in the comments by a person with a big ass heart, ever consider that???

HOJ is a messenger…..to write HOJ enjoys dysmal outlooks is, well, quite frankly, your own words as HOJ is only a messenger, not a skilled emotional psychiatrist.

Henchman Of Justice
Guest
Henchman Of Justice
7 years ago

Yes, because requiring fact over fiction is upsetting to the PC culture and anyone looking to pick a bone with HOJ.

TM May
Guest
TM May
7 years ago

You seem to have the delusional assumption anyone cares about what some [edit]thinks. You have GOT to be a Trump supporter yes?

TC
Guest
TC
7 years ago

I find HOJ’s comments hilarious !!!! very witty if i may add…..

RT
Guest
RT
7 years ago

No, he has many negative attitudes!

CnD
Guest
CnD
7 years ago

It seems most posters are blaming the victim, rather than the person holding the steering wheel of the vehicle who collided into the car ahead. It’s 100% the fault of the vehicle owner with damage to the front of their vehicle, regardless of what any other poster on this board thinks.

sharpen your pencil
Guest
sharpen your pencil
7 years ago
Reply to  CnD

Wouldn’t doubt if dude in the 300 was on his phone, everytime I drive harris it is proven how few people are focused on the road….

Julianne
Guest
Julianne
7 years ago
Reply to  CnD

Exactly.

Don
Guest
Don
7 years ago
Reply to  CnD

No brake lamps, so who is at fault?

Henchman Of Justice
Guest
Henchman Of Justice
7 years ago
Reply to  CnD

Wrong on several aspects.

So, if you purposefully slam on your breaks to intend a collission from behind to occur, you are at fault.

Veterans friend
Guest
Veterans friend
7 years ago
Reply to  CnD

‘ZACTLY

CnD
Guest
CnD
7 years ago

Folks need to focus on driving instead of Facebook while sitting behind the wheel.

Mike
Guest
Mike
7 years ago
Reply to  CnD

I’d be willing to bet the guy driving the car that did the rear ending was not on FB at the time if the collision.

SuperAggressiveDriverof2TonWeaponofDeath
Guest
SuperAggressiveDriverof2TonWeaponofDeath
7 years ago

HoJ is correct. Unless peds are IN THE CROSSWALK, no need to stop. I wish more people would better themselves and learn the rules of the road.

If I see someone walking down the street sorta near a crosswalk, should I slam on my brakes?

A Mom
Guest
A Mom
7 years ago

It is state law that drivers must stop when school buses are stopped to let off passengers. Google it.

hmm
Guest
hmm
7 years ago

I cant tell if this is a joke.

Priscilla Galvin
Guest
Priscilla Galvin
7 years ago

whenever I stop to allow pedestrian to cross, I worry if and when to car behind me decides to go around me. I suppose not realizing there is a person crossing the road. We all Gotta be a defensive drivers.

Don
Guest
Don
7 years ago

We all need to check our vehicles before driving them.

CnD
Guest
CnD
7 years ago

I almost got rear ended stopping for a stop sign. Now I don’t stop for stop signs anymore!

Henchman Of Justice
Guest
Henchman Of Justice
7 years ago
Reply to  CnD

HOJ runs inconsequential stop signs all-the-time……three ways are the best…..Arcata is the most repetitious……Arcata usually messes up all things road infrastructure……for bikes that know no rules and peds who just disrespect.

Don
Guest
Don
7 years ago
Reply to  CnD

Almost, that’s funny shit there!

hmm
Guest
hmm
7 years ago
Reply to  CnD

Great extension of HOJ’s “logic”, shows the flaw.

TC
Guest
TC
7 years ago
Reply to  CnD

Ha!

Claud Krashcup
Guest
Claud Krashcup
7 years ago

One car length for every ten miles an hour. Tailgating is a common problem all over Humboldt County. BACK OFF M.F.!

FFS
Guest
FFS
7 years ago

It doesn’t matter if she “slammed on her brakes”. The other driver should have been x amount of cars behind her BECAUSE things happen and sometimes people HAVE to slam on their brakes. What don’t people get? Who’s to say the kids weren’t in a crosswalk? What if they did just jump out into the street? What, she’s supposed to just run them over? No, that’s why it’s illegal to tail gate. The driver that rear-ended her is 100% to blame as he should have been following at a safe distance.

Coletta Hughes
Guest
Coletta Hughes
7 years ago

Bet she was hit by one of those aggressive drivers who can’t ever seem to get anywhere fast enough.

Covelo or busted
Guest
Covelo or busted
7 years ago

Good idea to tapp……. the heck on the brake………….. Saved my life at Renner exit…. lets the car behind you see the brake lights better … you can also hit the emergency flashers, ********** If that dont work, hang onto your virginity*******your about to get a rearendo.

Elizabeth Bareilles
Guest
Elizabeth Bareilles
7 years ago

My two cents: put on your hazard lights if you’re going to stop for a ped. It’ll make other drivers aware that something is happening.

Lizzie
Guest
Lizzie
7 years ago

The lady is my neighbor and she’s home now doing ok. There was a car in front of her who was stopped and she was rear-ended after she had stopped.

HOJ wins the prize for the biggest asinine comments. She’s not manipulating anything. She’s home hurting. Shame on you for being such a nasty person.

Veterans friend
Guest
Veterans friend
7 years ago
Reply to  Lizzie

Bless you

Lone ranger
Guest
Lone ranger
7 years ago
Reply to  Lizzie

Hurting from what? A 5mph impact,no way, she must have lived her whole life in a bubble, suck it up, just a car , couple pulled muscles at worst, you would think she got Tboned on the highway

Lizzie
Guest
Lizzie
7 years ago
Reply to  Lone ranger

She’s 86 and witnesses say the car was going about 30. Why do you feel the need to begrudge her being hurt?

Lone ranger
Guest
Lone ranger
7 years ago

30 mph not much either, nothing to really mention