Young pedestrian dies in accident with van

Drivers in Boston and across New England know that it’s important to keep an eye out for pedestrians. Particularly in congested city neighborhoods, people traveling on foot may not always cross the street at intersections with designated traffic signals for walkers. And in some areas there may not be crosswalks available.

While pedestrians are encouraged to use crosswalks whenever possible, children especially may not be as careful about doing this. Young people are often less aware of their surroundings and may forget to thoroughly check for oncoming traffic before running out into the street.

The loved ones of a 12-year-old boy who was struck and killed last week are undoubtedly still reeling from the accident, which happened early in the morning — presumably while the boy was on his way to school. Officials with the Boston Police Department said the boy was crossing the street when a commercial van ran into him. A news report said there are no crosswalks in the vicinity of the accident scene.

The boy was taken to a local hospital, but didn’t survive his injuries. Meanwhile, the driver of the van, registered to a company in Holyoke, reported the accident to his manager. Police haven’t said whether the driver was considered to be at fault or will face any criminal charges.

Whether or not there are other legal ramifications for the driver, his company may be required to compensate the family of the 12-year-old victim. One of the first steps for the boy’s loved ones might be to contact an attorney who can investigate the circumstances and determine whether grounds exist for a civil wrongful death lawsuit. Any settlement that arises from this accident could help the family cover the costs of the boy’s medical, funeral and burial expenses.

Source: CBS Boston, “12-Year-Old Boy Struck, Killed By Van In Allston,” May 9, 2013