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A 14-year-old South Florida girl is dead after a man driving van allegedly swerved out of his lane and hit the pedestrian, dragging her more than 30 yards. It is alleged that Jesse McInerney was driving a 1997 Chevrolet van when he drifted out of his lane and hit Brittany Hare from behind as she was talking on her phone. Police say that the van was speeding, but have yet to determine by how much. According to WFLX, charges have not yet been filed against the 52-year-old driver as the accident is still under investigation.
A witness said that McInerney did not have his headlights on despite it being almost 10pm. The car accident occurred at Indian River Estates community, a residential area in St. Lucie County, Florida. It has been reported that there are no streetlights or sidewalks in the neighborhood. Charges have yet to be filed against McInerney, but police say that he was definitely exceeding the 25mph speed limit on the road. He has allegedly been arrested over a dozen times since 1985, including DUI, drug possession, disorderly intoxication, robbery, burglary with battery, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, battery, tampering with a witness, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
According to a report by Washington-based Transportation for America (T4A), Florida is the most dangerous state for pedestrians, and it’s not even close. Using a devised rating system called the Pedestrian Danger Index (PDI), T4A ranked Florida a scary 182.8. The next worst state, South Carolina, scored a significantly lower 124.1, and only eleven states scored over 100. Not only is Florida ranked as the overall worst, but the state sweeps the top four of the rankings of the most dangerous metro areas. The most dangerous metros in the country were Orlando,Tampa/St. Petersburg, Jacksonville, and Miami/Fort Lauderdale.
This horrific accident is a reminder of the dangers that pedestrians face on Florida’s roads. In this case, no sidewalks or streetlights and a possibly reckless driver were a lethal combination for teenage Brittany Hare. Pedestrians injured in accidents with cars, trucks, or other vehicles may have legal recourse.
If you have been hurt in a pedestrian accident, do not hesitate to receive a free consultation from a Morgan & Morgan attorney by filling out our case review form. You may be eligible to seek monetary remuneration for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.