An elderly woman who died from injuries sustained in a Ventura car accident has been identified as 84-year-old Mary Cox. According to a news report in the Ventura County Star, Cox was trying to cross Telegraph Road near Kennedy Avenue, the morning of November 25, 2009, when a vehicle driven by 89-year-old Fred Yoder struck her. Officials have held Yoder at-fault for the crash "for failing to exercise due care for the safety of any pedestrian upon a roadway." Authorities have not ruled out criminal charges against Yoder. Cox apparently died of pneumonia caused by the injuries she suffered in this pedestrian accident.
My heart goes out to the family and friends of Mary Cox. Her husband Bill was apparently present at the time of the crash. He was fortunately not injured. Cox is a longtime and beloved community member. Please keep this family in your prayers.
Pedestrian Accidents in Ventura
According to California Highway Patrol's 2007 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there were three deaths and 27 injuries involving pedestrian accidents in Ventura. In Ventura County, eight people died and 186 were injured as a result of pedestrian accidents during the same year. Also countywide, car accidents claimed 71 lives and injured 3,993 people in 2007.
If the details of this news report are accurate, Yoder has already been determined at-fault for causing this fatal pedestrian accident. That said, we don't know whether he struck Cox in a crosswalk or in what way he was negligent.
An Experienced Personal Injury Attorney Can Help
The victim's family in this case would be well-advised to contact a reputed California personal injury attorney, who has a successful track record of holding negligent drivers accountable. A skilled car accident attorney will also determine whether there was a dangerous condition on the roadway, which may have caused or contributed to the tragic accident. If that was the case, the city of Ventura could also be held liable for the accident and Cox's wrongful death. According to California Government Code, any claim against a governmental entity must be filed within 180 days of the accident or injury.
