Pedestrian killed in South Lake Tahoe
A 49-year-old South Lake Tahoe man was killed Tuesday night when a van struck him as he walked along Highway 50.
The victim’s name has not been released pending notification of next of kin.
The highway was closed from Pioneer Trail to Midway Avenue for about three hours starting at 9:15pm Aug. 14.
“The pedestrian was found to be at fault in this collision. He was wearing dark clothing during hours of darkness and was illegally crossing U.S. 50 from the south curb line to the north, outside of a crosswalk,” Sgt. Brad Williams said in a press release.
Witnesses told officers they saw another vehicle narrowly miss the man before he was fatally struck.
Anyone with information regarding this accident is encouraged to call the South Lake Tahoe Police Department, at (530) 542.6100.
— Lake Tahoe News staff report
I am suprised this does not happen more often. Both NV and CA cops need to start citing people that don’t cross at the intersections or crosswalks. They stop traffic, cause accidents etc.
MAP+1 and the bikes with no lights riding on the wrong side of the road.
it is no wonder more pedestrians arent killed crossing hwy. 50, what with the new speed limit and all. Its like “Frogger” at certain parts of town. Its a sad thing to have a death happen but it is inevitable when the speed limit is 45 and that means that people are driving at least 50 and the people trying to cross in between lights are targets now. DUH!!!
If they were not crossing between lights there wouldn’t be as many accidents. Speed has very little to do with this.
“If they were not crossing between lights there wouldn’t be as many accidents.”
Easier said than done when some traffic lights in this town are between 1/3 to 2/3 of a mile apart WITH NO CROSSWALKS IN BETWEEN! I’m amazed we don’t have more pedestrian casualties.
As far as speed goes, try driving the speed limit anywhere in South Tahoe and you will have angry drivers backed up behind you. And then they pass on curves and when other traffic is approaching. I’m surprised there aren’t more deadly crashes. We need to reduce the speed limits, not raise them because of some out dated law.
How about RIP. He was somebody’s son.
Dejavu
I have also hit a pedestrian in this same area, right around Midway. It was at night two days after Christmas in the late 90’s. I was going the speed limit, back then 35mph, and never saw the guy, also wearing dark clothing. There were witnesses who said, “If this guy doesn’t look out, he is going to be hit”. I was that next car to come along. It was the most terrifying thing I have ever been involved in, just reading this article makes me sick.
The person I hit was also cited for the same thing. It wasn’t the fact that he was trying to cross the road, he was walking in my lane, going the same direction as I was.
It took me weeks before I could sleep through the night again and I was in court for two years after the accident. I don’t wish that on anyone, driver or ped.