Teenager Killed in Lancaster Pedestrian Accident

Adrian Smith, 15, was killed in a pedestrian accident in Lancaster the night of May 19, 2017 when he was walking with his mother and sister. According to a KTLA news report, the fatal incident occurred at the intersection of 32nd Street West and West Avenue L. Two vehicles stopped at the intersection to let the pedestrians cross the street. However, a third vehicle swerved at the last minute and drove on to a nearby embankment where it rolled several times and struck one of the pedestrians.

Tragic Fatal Accident

The boy’s mother, Terri Smith, said the vehicle rolled several times and flipped on her son. The teen was pronounced dead after being taken to a nearby hospital. The driver of the vehicle was also injured, but the extent of his injuries is not known. Officials have not yet determined if the driver was under the influence at the time of the crash. A GoFundMe page was created by Adrian’s sister to raise funds for his funeral. The investigation is ongoing.

We offer our deepest condolences to the family members of Adrian Smith for their tragic and heartbreaking loss. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.

Pedestrian Accident Statistics

There were three deaths and 40 injuries in the city of Lancaster as a result of pedestrian accidents in the year 2013, according to California Highway Patrol’s Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS). In Los Angeles County as a whole, 217 people died and 4,251 were injured due to pedestrian accidents during the same year.

Fault and Liability Issues

Based on this news report, it appears that the driver of the third vehicle lost control and struck the boy. There are still several unanswered questions here. Was the driver under the influence of alcohol or drugs? Did excessive speed or distracted driving play a role? Was the driver negligent in any other way? We trust officials are looking into these and other factors in order to determine precisely what occurred here and why.

In such cases where negligence or wrongdoing may have been a factor, families of deceased victims can file a wrongful death lawsuit against the at-fault parties seeking compensation for damages including medical expenses, funeral costs, lost future income and loss of love and companionship. Victims’ families would also be well advised to contact an experienced Los Angeles personal injury lawyer who will stay abreast of the official investigation and help ensure that their legal rights and best interests are protected.