Rash of pedestrian accidents a concern

Published 11:02 pm Saturday, March 7, 2009

Since mid-February, five teenagers walking along Snohomish County roads have been rushed to emergency rooms after being hit by cars.

On Thursday night, three boys, one in Marysville and two in Everett, were struck.

The night before, another Marysville boy, 14, apparently crossed against the light and was run down.

A 13-year-old ran out from behind a bus in Marysville on Feb. 12. The driver of a pickup truck didn’t have a chance to stop before running into the boy, police said.

“I’m not even sure why this is happening,” Marysville Fire District and Snohomish County SafeKIDS spokeswoman Kristen Thorstenson said Friday. “Kids are paying less attention, and so are drivers.”

Although the young people weren’t killed, most were taken to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, the region’s trauma center.

Many suffered broken bones, others internal injuries. One boy on Thursday suffered what could be “absolutely some life-changing injuries” to his head, Thorstenson said.

Investigators believe the Everett boys were walking in 148th Street SW around 11 p.m.

“That’s a particularly dangerous thing to do, especially at night when visibility is greatly diminished,” Snohomish County sheriff’s spokeswoman Rebecca Hover said. “All the rules we’re taught as kids — walk on the sidewalk or side of the road facing oncoming traffic, wear light or reflective clothing — still apply.”

Teenagers are especially at risk, experts said.

Their bodies still are developing and they sometimes make poor decisions, not taking into consideration all the risks.

Judging the distance and speed of oncoming vehicles also can be challenging for eyes that are growing, said Lynn Drake, who studies pedestrian safety for the Washington Traffic Safety Commission.

The switch to daylight saving time also increases the statistical likelihood of an accident, Drake said. It takes time for people’s body clocks to adjust to the change.

Families and schools need to remind teens to wear bright colors, remove headphones and only cross streets in marked crosswalks, officials said.

“They don’t understand the risks,” Thorstenson said.

In Marysville, where three boys have been hit recently, safety officials are in talks with the schools to get information to students in an effort to prevent tragedies, Thorstenson said.

People behind the wheel also need to take responsibility.

“We drivers seem to be more in a hurry than in times past. I’m not so sure we’re paying attention like we should be,” Thorstenson said. “We need to slow down a little bit and watch what’s going on.”

Jackson Holtz: 425-339-3437, jholtz@heraldnet.com.

What you can do

Adults should talk with teenagers about pedestrian safety.

Encourage kids to wear bright clothes and remove headphones.

Remind teens to use crosswalks.

Drivers should slow down, especially around schools.