Hit-and-run driver identified in fatal pedestrian accident

Occasionally a news story leads to more questions than it answers. Why was a pedestrian standing in the middle of a Massachusetts highway at 1:15 in the morning? And why would someone strike an object, stop the car, but then leave the scene of an accident?

Recently it was reported that a 29-year-old man from Needham was apparently standing in the middle or Route 24 near Randolph when he was struck by a car. The vehicle was driven by a 20-year-old man from Norton. The 29-year-old pedestrian was fatally injured.

According to the police, there were people in the area who observed a red car at about that time of night that the accident took place. The news media reported that the police were looking for a red car that may have been involved in an accident. The 20-year-old said he learned of the search and turned himself in at the police station, claiming that he thought he hit a deer.

This explanation raises additional questions. A deer impact is typically a major event. Wouldn’t someone pull over to check the damage to the car? What evidence led the police to claim that the car stopped at the scene of the crash, and then left?

The only bits of information that seem clear are that a pedestrian was killed when struck by a car and the driver of the car has been identified.

The authorities are investigating the fatal accident. The family of the pedestrian who died may wish to pursue wrongful death litigation to obtain compensation for their loss.

Source: Boston Herald, “Suspect in fatal Randolph pedestrian accident identified,” Laurel J. Sweet, July 30, 2012

At our Boston law firm, we represent individuals similar to those described in this posting, who suffer personal injuries or die in pedestrian accidents due to the negligence of others.