Hit-and-Run San Francisco Car Accident Kills 11-year-old Girl

Authorities have identified an 11-year-old girl who was killed in a San Francisco car accident as Alana Williams. Alana was apparently hit and fatally injured by a hit-and-run driver the morning of October 16, 2009 as she walked across the street to school in a marked crosswalk. The driver of the sedan that struck her fled the scene of the accident. Alana was taken to a hospital where she died. The suspect driver is at large.

I offer my deepest condolences to Alana's family and her friends who must have been traumatized by this tragedy. Please keep this little girl's grieving family and friends in your prayers.

California Car Accident Laws

I certainly hope the hit-and-run driver in this case if found to be at-fault, is prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. In this case, the motorist appears to have committed two very serious crimes. First, the driver struck a pedestrian who was legally crossing the street in a marked crosswalk and failed to yield right-of-way or slow down to allow the pedestrian to cross the street. This is a violation of California Vehicle Code 21950. Also according to California Vehicle Code section 20001: "The driver of a vehicle involved in an accident resulting in injury to a person, other than himself or herself, or in the death of a person shall immediately stop the vehicle at the scene of the accident."

Dangerous Roadway or Intersection

Based on this news report, the intersection where Alana was struck and killed is extremely dangerous. Many in the community have asked for a stop light there and others say there are many blind spots at the intersection where cars coming from one side do not have a clear view of the intersection at all.

It would be in the best interest of the Williams family to seek the advice and guidance of an experienced San Francisco personal injury lawyer, who will not only make sure they get fairly compensated for their horrible loss, but also look into whether a dangerous condition on the roadway caused or contributed to this fatal pedestrian accident. If that was the case, the city or governmental agency responsible for maintaining that roadway could also be held liable. Please remember that any claim against a governmental agency in California must be properly filed within six months of an accident or injury.

We are not representing any of the parties mentioned in this article at the time the article was posted. Our information source is cited in the article. If you were involved in this incident or a similar incident and have questions as to your rights and options, call a reputable law firm. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. Get a consultation. The best law firms will provide a free confidential consultation to "not a fault" persons named in this article and their family members.