Richard Amador Killed by Vehicle on East Loop in Houston, TX
UPDATE (January 17, 2021): Reports have identified the pedestrian killed in this accident as Richard Amador.
Houston, TX -- January 9, 2022, a pedestrian was struck and killed by a vehicle on the East Loop in Houston.
Authorities say the incident happened shortly before 8:00 p.m. on the 900 block of the East Loop near Clinton Road. Preliminary reports suggests only that the victim was on foot in the area when they were fatally struck by a passing vehicle. It is unclear if the vehicle's driver remained at the scene after the collision.
No further information is currently available.
Commentary on Richard Amador Accident on East Loop in Houston
When a pedestrian is hit by a vehicle in a situation like this, I notice many people essentially write the crash off and blame the victim without much further consideration. It's a common but mistaken sentiment that pedestrians should never be in the road unless they're protected by a light or a crosswalk, and therefore are always at fault in any other situation. However, the law is far more complex than that.
When looking into a collision like this one, prudent investigators also consider how ultimately avoidable it was (or should have been). Put simply, all drivers have an obligation to avoid any accident they can even if the law says they have the right-of-way. If a reasonably prudent driver doing everything they're supposed to (hands on the wheel, eyes on the road, traveling the speed limit, sober, etc) couldn't have avoided a collision with the victim, then it wouldn't be fair to blame them. However, if it's discovered through careful analysis that they could have avoided hitting him--regardless of right-of-way--then it must be determined why they didn't do so. Of course, part of that hinges on whether the driver remained at the scene after the collision; a hit-and-run investigation would differ in many ways from that of a regular traffic collision.
To be clear, I'm not accusing either involved party of anything or saying I know anything besides the vague information currently available in news reports. I'm only saying that this incident, like most crashes, may not be as simple as some may think. Further investigation is needed to determine where exactly both parties were in the road, where they came from, what they were doing, how visible the pedestrian was, how fast the vehicle was traveling, and whether or not the accident could have been avoided with reasonable care. Even if reported facts seem simple enough, it's important to consider all possibilities to get the victim's loved ones the answers and help they deserve.
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