Man Faces Felony Charges after Hit-and-run Pedestrian Accident in Jackson County, Missouri

A 64-year-old man is facing charges in Jackson County after being involved in a hit-and-run accident with a 3-year-old pedestrian. The Missouri pedestrian accident happened back in mid-March. He's now officially facing a single felony count of leaving the scene of an injury motor-vehicle accident, according to The Kansas City Star.

The child was reportedly checking the mail with two older boys at the intersection of 43rd Street and Pittman Road when the accident occurred. Investigations revealed fibers matching the child's sweatshirt on the accused man's van.

Our Kansas City child injury attorneys understand just how vulnerable young children are to pedestrian accidents. While parents are urged to supervise their children near motor-vehicle traffic, motorists shouldn't always rely on the responsibility of others.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there were nearly 4,400 pedestrians killed in motor-vehicle accidents in the U.S. in 2008. Nearly 70,000 pedestrians were injured in the same year. As a matter of fact, children ages 5- to 14-years-old are more likely to die in a traffic accident, including a pedestrian accident, than from any other cause. About a fifth of all deaths among those under the age of 15 are the result of pedestrian accidents.

In 2008, a pedestrian died on U.S. roadways every 2 hours. A pedestrian was injured every 8 minutes. Pedestrians are about 2 times as likely as a passenger vehicle occupant to be fatally injured in a car accident.

Child pedestrian trends:

-Nearly 90 percent of child pedestrian fatalities happen at non-intersections.

-About a fourth of all child pedestrian fatalities happen between the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m.

-More than 10 children die every year because of school bus-related pedestrian accidents.

-About 70 percent of child pedestrian fatalities occur to boys.

-African-American children have a higher pedestrian death rate than Caucasian children.

-About 80 percent of driveway-related accidents happen to children under the age of 5.

Parents should talk with children about the following pedestrian safety tips:

-Only cross the street at a corner, with a crosswalk, with a traffic signal. Try making eye contact with drivers before stepping out onto the road. Don't assume they see you.

-Make sure to keep looking left and right as you cross the road.

-Walk on a sidewalk or on a path when walking near a road. Always walk as far to the left as possible, facing oncoming traffic.

-Be extra cautious around cars. Keep an eye out for vehicles that may be backing up.

-Make sure to hold an adults hand when walking in a parking lot.

-Children under the age of 10 should never cross a street without an adult.

-Make sure that children walking towards a school bus know to stay at least 10 feet away from the bus except when walking directly to the door to board.

-Teach a child never to run out in the road for a pet, a ball or for any other reason.

-Make sure your child wears bright colored clothing to help ensure that motorists can see them.

With a little extra caution from motorists, we can help save the young, precious lives of child pedestrians. Be sure to drive slowly through residential neighborhoods, school zones and anywhere else where children may be present.