Recently, in Haotian Street, Fangshan District, Beijing, an elderly man in his eighties was crossing the road without using the pedestrian crossing when he encountered a distracted driver. As a result, he was directly hit and sent flying, and ultimately died due to intracranial bleeding despite being rushed to the hospital for treatment.
According to a report from mainland China’s Sina website, the driver involved in the accident explained that the elderly man was crossing the road from the bus stop (not using the designated crosswalk) when he had just passed the red light and failed to notice the man. The driver stated, “By the time I reacted and tried to brake, it was too late.”
The footage from the car’s dashboard camera showed that as the driver continued driving, he encountered the elderly man crossing the road. As the driver did not brake in time to avoid the pedestrian, the immense impact directly sent the elderly man flying. Following the incident, the driver immediately called emergency services. At that time, the elderly man was sitting by the side of the road and was still able to speak normally.
Reports indicate that the elderly man did not have any external injuries, but the intracranial bleeding was severe, leading to his unfortunate passing despite medical efforts.
The police investigation suspects that the driver was using his phone at the time of the accident. However, the driver denied this claim, stating that music was playing in the car, which might have distracted him, causing him not to see the person on the road.
Furthermore, on the day of the accident, the spot where the elderly man crossed the road outside the pedestrian crossing was only about 50 meters away from it. However, after getting off the bus, the elderly man chose convenience over safety by not using the designated crosswalk, resulting in the tragic collision.
Many netizens expressed sentiments such as, “Crossing the road improperly was a mistake, but seeing this elderly man hit and still able to sit and talk normally on the road, only to pass away due to excessive bleeding, is truly heartbreaking.” “Passing by a bus stop without checking and slowing down means your driver’s license is practically useless.” “With no obstructions or blind spots, missing a person of that size is clearly a sign of the driver being distracted! Giving way to pedestrians should always be the top priority.” “Every violation is a challenge to the Grim Reaper, and every distraction is a blasphemy against life. The red line of rules is the bottom line for survival.” “I’m always extra cautious when crossing the road, I can’t entrust my life entirely to others.” “Reminding all pedestrians, do not risk crossing the road for the sake of convenience!”
These events serve as a sobering reminder of the importance of following traffic rules and being vigilant while on the road to ensure the safety of everyone, especially vulnerable road users such as pedestrians and the elderly. Let us all strive to prioritize safety and respect the rules of the road to avoid such tragic accidents in the future.