Mother and Child in Stroller Struck by Car

[jsteele]

Breaking news: not many details yet. A mother and a child in a stroller where struck by a car at Georgia Ave. and Aspen Hill Rd.:

[Anonymous]

Oh, that is so sad. I hope everyone will be okay.

That is such a dangerous area for pedestrians and traffic. I was involved in a fatal accident almost in that exact spot about 15 years ago.

[Anonymous]

why am I not surprised. Just a few days after the girl in dupont killed by a hit and run.

Just last week I was with my child in a stroller on 14th street, crossing at a cross walk (which is emblazoned with signs for STOP FOR PEDESTRIANS). After waiting for a break in traffic I got halfway across the street, and then stayed there as about 13 cars going south passed in front of me without stopping at the cross walk. Meanwhile there were cars going north. WTF! I'm standing in the middle of the street in a crosswalk, with a stroller, and no one stops and I'm thinking if someone just isn't paying a ttention by a little bit we could be struck.

[Anonymous]

This is very sad. Oncoming traffic SHOULD have stopped, period. Car vs. squishy human, the squishy human always gets the right of way.

However. I have a feeling this could have been easily avoided. I predict we will ultimately learn that this woman was pushing the stroller across 6 lanes of traffic while not in a crosswalk; while not at a red light. I predict she was in the middle of a block where traffic is legally permitted to go 40 m.p.h, and she just made a run for it. I wish our most recent arrivals to the United States would not do to the extent that they do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is very sad. Oncoming traffic SHOULD have stopped, period. Car vs. squishy human, the squishy human always gets the right of way.

However. I have a feeling this could have been easily avoided. I predict we will ultimately learn that this woman was pushing the stroller across 6 lanes of traffic while not in a crosswalk; while not at a red light. I predict she was in the middle of a block where traffic is legally permitted to go 40 m.p.h, and she just made a run for it. I wish our most recent arrivals to the United States would not do to the extent that they do.

While people do jaywalk with kids (I've seen it) it's unfair to assume that that was what this woman was doing. It's also unfair to assume that she was probably not from this country as I have seen plenty of Americans jaywalk.

In fact, not that long ago a family from Texas was jaywalking in DC and their 10 year old ran ahead and was fatally struck by a car.

[Anonymous]

This is awful. I hope they are okay. We NEVER cross without a traffic light. My kids are not allowed to cross Wisconsin Ave, CT Ave, Mass, Ave, etc., unless they are at a traffic light with a green light. I know pedestrians are still hit in crosswalks with a green light, but never see anyone stop for pedestrians in crosswalks not at a traffic light.

[Anonymous]

So sad

[Anonymous]

The Washington Post is reporting that the toddler has life-threatening injuries and CPR was performed on her at the scene.

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/dr-gridlock/2010/10/georgia_ave_nb_closed_in_aspen.html?hpid=newswell

And pp, way to blame the victim before you know any of the facts.

[Anonymous]

this is very sad. I hope they both survive this. It is likely the woman was in a cross walk and a car was simply driving too fast. I see it all the time. I was almost hit by a car last friday, as I stepped into the road a car "punched" it to go around a car that stopped for me to cross the street. I was lucky, I heard the car so I was able to jump back. Fortunately neither of my children were with me.

[Anonymous]

I don't know the likelihood of whether the pedestrians were crossing in a crosswalk or not, but you couldn't pay me to even cross legally anywhere near there - TONS of traffic, 6 (or 8, counting turn lanes) lanes, people speeding, changing lanes, swerving around buses...I hope the mother and child are ok.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is very sad. Oncoming traffic SHOULD have stopped, period. Car vs. squishy human, the squishy human always gets the right of way.

However. I have a feeling this could have been easily avoided. I predict we will ultimately learn that this woman was pushing the stroller across 6 lanes of traffic while not in a crosswalk; while not at a red light. I predict she was in the middle of a block where traffic is legally permitted to go 40 m.p.h, and she just made a run for it. I wish our most recent arrivals to the United States would not do to the extent that they do.

WTF? An offensive post on so many levels.

And this is sad and SO UNSURPRISING. I have had a number of near-misses with my daughter in her stroller -- in the crosswalk, with the light, four-way stop-signed intersections, etc., thank you very much. Including one time with the jogging stroller, which is big enough that it would be impossible not to notice -- and a car turning left didn't even look to see if there were pedestrians in the crosswalk, and just plowed through the intersection.

The most dangerous thing I do with my daughter is cross the street -- in my pedestrian-scaled neighborhood. Thanks to all those careless drivers who are in such a hurry.

[Anonymous]

I live in Seven Corners and I used to get frustrated with all the jaywalkers with strollers but the fact is that so many areas are so PEDESTRIAN UNFRIENDLY. Not nearly enough crosswalks.

[Anonymous]

I used to live in that area and it is extremely dangerous for pedestrians (even those obeying laws and common sense).

[Anonymous]

the latest news is that the mother was NOT hit but the 16 month old was. the baby is in the hospital in serious condition but not life-threatening. i do hope that the baby recovers fully, obviously.

and for those who jumped to the conclusion that the mother MUST be at fault--whatever helps you sleep at night. clearly, you want this to never be you. but the fact of the matter is that we live in a place where people are in a hurry and are too damned car-dependent. it could be any of us.

[Anonymous]

Even if she was at fault, it's still horrible and they both deserve empathy and good thoughts.