Box Truck Driver Placed in the Back of Patrol Vehicle After Fatal Whittier Collision
WHITTIER, CALIFORNIA (February 27, 2025) – A pedestrian has tragically died in a Whittier box truck accident along Santa Fe Springs Road.
Whittier Police Department officials are saying that the incident took place around 1:21 p.m. on Wednesday afternoon. A pedestrian was struck by the box truck near a refuge island along Santa Fe Springs Road.
Paramedics were called to the scene in order to help the victim. Despite life-saving measures, the pedestrian was pronounced dead at the scene.
The box truck driver remained at the scene and was temporarily placed in the back of a patrol vehicle. It remains unclear if they will receive any traffic citations for the fatal collision.
Liability for Los Angeles County Truck Accidents
Thousands of pedestrians are killed or seriously injured in collisions with commercial trucks every year. According to one report by Reuters, “The number of pedestrians killed in 2021 jumped 13% to 7,342, the highest since 1981, while the number of people on bicycles killed rose 5% to 985, the highest since at least 1975, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said.” Taller trucks and SUVs were 45% more likely to result in a pedestrian fatality than smaller vehicles. A number of factors are positively associated with truck accidents.
- Truck accidents are more likely when a truck driver is working past their allotted hours or otherwise fatigued.
- Truck accidents are more likely to occur at intersections.
- Truck accidents are more likely during the early morning and late evening hours when visibility is reduced.
Every driver in California is expected to operate their vehicle with a great deal of care in order to avoid hitting pedestrians. Pursuant to California Vehicle Code 21950, the driver of a vehicle must yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian that is crossing within any marked crosswalk at an intersection. Even if a pedestrian is outside of a marked crosswalk, drivers must still use caution in order to avoid hitting them. If a driver fails to slow down in order to avoid hitting a pedestrian, this could form the basis of a negligence claim.
Liability for a truck accident could extend beyond an at-fault truck driver. The company that a truck driver was working for could potentially be held at fault for a collision. Generally speaking, companies are liable for the wrongful actions of their employees – insofar as those employees were working within the course and scope of their job duties. It is important that the circumstances surrounding any fatal truck accident are properly understood.
- The logbook for the truck driver should be reviewed.
- Surveillance footage should be sought.
- Photos of the accident site should be taken.
- A police report should be conducted.
Pedestrian accidents are often highly preventable. They tend to occur when truck drivers are simply not paying adequate attention to the road ahead of them. In some cases, a city’s infrastructure could contribute to an accident. As cities across California have continued to grow, roadways have often not kept up with the surge of vehicles and pedestrians that use them. The family of any person killed in a truck accident may be able to seek some measure of accountability through a wrongful death claim.
Investigating Whittier Truck Accidents
We at Samer Habbas & Associates PC extend our deepest condolences to the family of the pedestrian killed in this Whittier truck accident. Any person that may have more information about what happened should reach out to the police. There needs to be a thorough investigation into what went wrong so that similar tragedies may possibly be prevented.
Do you need more information about a Whittier truck accident? Our team of pedestrian safety advocates is here to answer any questions that you may have. We are committed to helping victims of truck accidents and holding negligent drivers accountable for their wrongful conduct. Whether you just have legal questions or need a free, independent investigation into any collision, we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at 949-727-9300.
