CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Five Corpus Christi pedestrians have died after being hit by a vehicle within the last two months. None were using a crosswalk.
The CDC reports that every day, nearly 37,000 people are killed worldwide in crashes that involve vehicles, motorcycles, and bikes. Over half of those killed are pedestrians, motorcyclists, or cyclists.
The slew of pedestrian accidents hits close to home for Carole Hilderbran, especially the hit-and-run that happened just last week on the 2700 block of Gollihar Road. That crash took the life of 68-year-old John Guerra.
Carole knows all too well what it is like to have someone you love involved in a hit and run. Her daughter almost lost her life 30 years ago when she was struck by a vehicle on Water Street.
"You got to tell people to be careful. You know, you got to stop and think about what you're doing, not where you're going. We're all guilty of having our mind going ahead of us, and we need to slow down," Hilderbran said.
"I personally have had that happen in my family and it's hard to handle. It's tragic when something like that happens and people that drive off from the accident take no responsibility for what they're doing and shouldn't be out there driving," she said.
All five pedestrians killed in the last two months were over the age of 65. Vincent Doyle said he worries for his older friends that walk from place to place.
As he gets older, he has realized just how important it is that senior citizens are vigilant, not just when they are walking from place to place, but also when they drive.
"I have to be very deliberate about really double checking, watching, not being in a hurry and being aware that people aren't dressed for visibility. You go out in the daytime and you're walking back at night, and you don't realize you're invisible," he said.