Man Killed Near Lackland Air Force Base After Being Run Over Twice
A man was killed on May 16th after he was hit by a car and run over by a second. The scene was near W Military and Luke BLVD in the 5700 block of Five Palms Drive in San Antonio.
The man was walking in the middle of the road near Lackland Air Force Base at around 5:45 a.m. when he was struck by the first car. He was then hit by a second vehicle and ultimately pronounced dead at the scene.
Both drivers stopped and are cooperating with investigators. The driver of the first vehicle claimed they hadn’t seen the man before they hit the victim. The first driver also suffered a wrist injury and was taken to the hospital. Neither driver is facing charges at this time.
The westbound lanes of W Military at Luke BLVD were shut down while one eastbound lane was left open to allow access to the air force base.
The investigation is still ongoing.
Dangers to Pedestrians
Pedestrians are some of the most vulnerable people on the road as they have no safety equipment to protect them in an accident. According to the TxDOT’s Open Data Portal, pedestrians made up 1 in 6 of all fatalities in the state. While the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) is working to make the roads safer for pedestrians, the number of deaths continues to increase.
Safety Measures for Pedestrians
Even marked crosswalks can be dangerous to pedestrians if there isn’t a traffic signal to control it. Many drivers only look for other cars when they’re at an intersection, which can lead to injuries or the death of a pedestrian.
One solution is a device placed at crosswalks that a pedestrian can activate as needed. They either use a beacon on the roadside or mast arms at midblock crossings. Sidewalks can also improve safety.
If you’re in an area without these safety features, you’ll need to take precautions to avoid an accident:
- Only used marked crosswalks
- Avoid walking when visibility is low
- Always walk facing traffic if there is no sidewalk
- Make eye contact with drivers before you cross
- Don’t cross if anything is blocking your view of oncoming traffic
Drivers can also take steps such as slowing when they see pedestrians or visibility is low.
