One of the two women who was struck in a Washington DC pedestrian accident on September 8th has died. The victim, Julia Bachleitner, was a 26-year-old Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies graduate student from Austria. She was taken off life support yesterday.
Bachleitner and Melissa Basque, another student, were standing on a traffic island and waiting for the light to change in the Adams Morgan neighborhood when a vehicle driven by an alleged drunken driver hit them. One witness says that the force of the collision caused the women to be thrown at least 30 feet. They both sustained serious injuries. Basque was released from the hospital on Friday.
Meantime, the allegedly inebriated motorist, 23-year-old Chamica M. Adams, was arrested at the Adams Morgan pedestrian crash site. She did not sustain any injuries from the Washington DC motor vehicle crash.
According to one witness, after Adams’ vehicle struck the two women, she drove her car through the front window of a restaurant. Fortunately, even though there were people in the restaurant no one was hurt.
Adams has been charged with driving while intoxicated and aggravated assault. Following Bachleitner’s passing, however, the U.S. Attorney’s Office says that the criminal charges may be changed to involuntary manslaughter.
Pedestrian Accidents
With little protection from the impact of getting hit by a car, bus, truck, or SUV, pedestrians are at risk of suffering serious injuries during a traffic crash. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports 4,092 US pedestrian deaths and 59,000 pedestrian injuries in 2009. Many of these injured pedestrians had to undergo surgeries and other costly medical care to recover.
You may be able to hold the negligent motorist liable.
Student Pulled Off Life Support After Being Struck By Driver, MyFox Washington DC, September 14, 2010
Driver hits 2 pedestrians, crashes into Adams Morgan restaurant, officials say, Washington Post, September 9, 2010
Highlights of 2009 Motor Vehicle Crashes (PDF)
Related Web Resources:
Impaired Driving Facts, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
DC Department of Transportation
Maryland Car Accident Attorney Blog
To request your free consultation, contact our Washington DC personal injury law firm today.