Pedestrian struck on Gallows Road
A Fairfax County man who had just been released from Inova Fairfax Hospital was struck as he crossed Gallows Road at around 7 p.m. on Jan. 29, the Fairfax County Police Department reports. The 46-year-old man was crossing the road in front of the hospital’s emergency room when he walked into the path of a Toyota Sienna van. The man suffered severe, life-threatening injuries in the crash and was transported back to Inova Fairfax Hospital.
The driver of the van was a 35-year-old Annandale woman. Neither she, nor her husband and four children who were also in the van, required any medical treatment. Crash Reconstruction Unit detectives are investigating the crash. Neither speed nor alcohol appear to be factors.
Over the past three years, more than 400 pedestrians have been struck and injured in crashes on Fairfax County roadways. Fairfax County police urge walkers, motorists, and bicyclists to pay close attention to pedestrian safety rules, such as crossing with a light and using a crosswalk.
There is a northbound bus stop across from the hospital. The crosswalk is located about, what, a hundred feet away, which is not far, but for someone leaving the hospital, perhaps disoriented, they might be tempted to jaywalk. One could move the bus stop TO the crosswalk, but that would mean stopped buses might delay cars because the road is narrower there) and we would not want that, now would we?
Meanwhile instead of looking at our infrastructure, we will likely end up blaming the guy for jaywalking.
I hope this wasn't a suicide attempt. That stretch of Gallows Rd. is well lit and the headlights of the van should have been easy to see. So, if the victim literally "walked into the path" of the van, this incident may have been more than simple negligence.
What kind of ass backwards logic is this? Assuming he was jaywalking, why wouldnt we blame him for jaywalking? I dont run stop signs because I disagree with their placement or city planning.
The intersection at a hospital should be very pedestrian friendly. But because this idiotic County puts the safety of its citizens in the hands of bigger idiots at VDOT, WE HAVE NO SAFETY FOR PEDESTRIAN AND CYCLISTS PERIOD!!!! FFX get your brains out of your butt!