Most people don’t realize that the most dangerous activity they will engage in during the course of a normal day is getting behind the wheel of a car. However, several car accidents involving child pedestrians have brought a new danger to light. An alarming number of children have been severely injured or killed since the start of the New Year in Houston.
7-year-old Abraham Garcia Died at Memorial Hermann Hospital on May 14, 2012. Garcia was airlifted to Memorial Herman after being struck by a car on Mother’s Day evening, around 6:00pm. This tragic car accident prompted an emotional response from the local community, who said that a car accident was bound to happen sooner or later on this street because of inadequate patrolling and an abundance of speeding drivers.
According to witnesses Garcia was in the street inspecting a dead squirrel, intrigued as any seven-year-old boy would be. The accident occurred on Blackhawk Boulevard in a subdivision in southeast Harris County. Sadly stories like this are becoming more common.
On January 27, 2012 another 7-year-old boy was struck by a car while riding his bike in a southwest Houston neighborhood. His injuries included broken bones and head injuries, although he escaped the accident with his life.
On May 9, 2012 two girls, ages 7 and 8, were struck by a car in southwest Houston. The 8-year-old was not injured in the accident but the 7-year-old girl was critically injured and treated at Texas Children’s Hospital. A witness performed CPR on the 7-year-old until paramedics arrived, likely saving the young child’s life.
The number of children hit by cars in the Houston area is disturbing and bordering a full-blown epidemic. Parents need to speak with their children about road safety and drivers need to be more cautious. A combination of road safety education and increased Houston drivers’ awareness could have prevented these heart-wrenching accidents. If your child is injured by a negligent driver, call Simmons and Fletcher to speak to an auto-pedestrian accident attorney today.
