Taxi kills 2 pedestrians in fatal accident in Pennsylvania
Broad and Arch Streets in Philadelphia is the location of the Pennsylvania architectural treasure known as City Hall. The circular streets surrounding the site are well marked and regulated, but they are prone to abuse by cab drivers and private operators who tend to race to beat the traffic signals. That may possibly be the cause of a fatal accident that occurred recently near that site when a taxicab struck and killed two pedestrians.
Police report that the taxi threw the two pedestrians about 100 feet from the cab, possibly attesting to a high rate of speed. The male pedestrian was pronounced dead at the scene while his female companion died shortly thereafter at the hospital. The two were visitors to the city, attending a convention. The accident happened at about 4:30 p.m., and there was no bad weather reported, indicating that the driver had clear vision ahead.
One witness reported the speed of the driver to have been 50 mph, which is double the maximum speed allowed. Police, however, cautioned that the speed issue has not yet been determined. They also reported that the driver was cooperating and that they were waiting for blood work taken from him at the hospital. Investigators were awaiting toxicology results from blood work done at the hospital.
In Pennsylvania, a wrongful death claim may be brought by a decedent’s estate to pursue claims for monetary damages for the loss of the victim’s life in a fatal accident. The claim is of course made against the driver or drivers who negligently caused the accident and the resulting death. In this case, the authorities will issue an investigative report. Whether the driver committed any criminal violations during the accident remains to be seen, but the estates of the decedents may nonetheless bring their claims against the taxi cab company and its driver for negligent operation of the vehicle.
Source: 6abc.com, “Man and woman killed by taxicab in Center City Philadelphia identified“, Sept. 8, 2015