Nottingham Accident in Arlington – community meeting

[consularrider]

Unfortunately too many of the commentators keep talking about “pedestrian” safety. This was not an issue of what is normally referred to as pedestrian safety, it was a driver opening a street-side passenger door, something we were taught not to do in drivers education. The appropriate place to get in and out of a car for passengers is on the non-street side. The collision was terrible and while the police statement seems to go out of its way to try and not blame the truck driver, he clearly was too close to parked cars along that stretch.

[Brendan von Buckingham]

Unfortunately too many of the commentators keep talking about “pedestrian” safety. This was not an issue of what is normally referred to as pedestrian safety, it was a driver hitting a parked car, something we were taught not to do in drivers education. The appropriate place to drive your truck is in the travel lane. The collision was terrible and while the police statement seems to go out of its way to try and not blame the truck driver, he clearly hit the car a little bit with a little bit of his truck and the mother is now a little dead.

If this mother doesn’t get justice, we’re insane to think we’ll ever get it. We might as well quit and go home and be satisfied with saying a prayer before every ride. That’s as much protection as we deserve I suppose.

[rcannon100]

From Arlington County:

Charges Brought Against Driver in Little Falls Road Fatality Accident
April 11, 2014

ARLINGTON, Va. – The Arlington County Police Department’s Critical Accident Team has completed their investigation of the fatal traffic accident that took the life of Jennifer Lawson on February 24, 2014 in the 5900 block of Little Falls Road.

The driver of the commercial dump truck, 33 year-old Marvin Valladares, of Manassas, VA, was issued a summons for failure to pay full time and attention.

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[TwoWheelsDC]

@rcannon100 82260 wrote:

was issued a summons for failure to pay full time and attention.

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“there was ‘no indication of any driver distraction or alcohol involved” in the accident, and there was also “no indication of any speeding violation,”

No indication of distraction, but the driver was cited for failure to pay full time and attention….makes sense :rolleyes:

[rcannon100]

The civil liability implications are tremendous. If found guilty of the ticket, the driver – and the employer I would assume – would I believe face civil liability for wrongful death. These little tickets matter a lot.

This is all very very sad.

[Rootchopper]

When my wife was run over by an SUV in broad daylight, police cited the driver with the same offense. My sense is this tells the insurance company that he obviously did something wrong even if the police officer didn’t see the event in question.

[Rootchopper]

Bingo.

My guess is this will be settled out of court because the driver and his employer don’t want this before a jury.

[dasgeh]

I still find it sad that driving a truck in such a way that you hit a legally parked vehicle, in broad daylight without any visual obstructions, isn’t negligent driving.

[Edgar P.]

Wow.. That’s so messed up. I feel so sorry for her family.

[Author]

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