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CHP says driver not likely at fault for hitting 13-year-old on Old Stage Road

A spokesman for the California Highway Patrol (CHP) said this morning (January 21) that the driver that struck a 13-year-old female pedestrian on Old Stage Road in Fallbrook Saturday, January 19, is not likely to be found at fault for the accident.

"It looks like the pedestrian will be at fault, not the driver," said CHP public information officer Jim Bettencourt. "We don't think there was anything the driver could have done [to avoid hitting her]; it appears that she walked out in front of the driver."

Bettencourt said the incident occurred at approximately 2 p.m. that day on Old Stage Road at Pippin Drive and the vehicle involved was a 2005 GMC Yukon sport utility vehicle, driven by an 18-year-old Fallbrook woman.

"The driver was traveling southbound and only going about 27 miles per hour," he said. "The girl had bought ice cream (from an ice cream truck) and was trying to walk back across

    . She walked in front of the ice cream truck and into the street when she was struck by the vehicle."

    Bettencourt said based on the report, the girl said she had "looked both ways" before walking eastbound across Old Stage to Pippin, but did not see the vehicle.

    "It was just a bad accident," he said.

    The girl suffered broken bones, abrasions, and possibly internal injuries, said Bettencourt.

    "She had major injuries and was taken by Mercy Air to Children's Hospital in San Diego."

    Bettencourt said he would like parents to caution their children about crossing a street, saying "instruct children to go where they have a full [unobstructed] view of the roadway when they want to cross."

    "In the case of an ice cream truck, or other vehicle pulled temporarily over to a curb, they could also wait until the truck leaves so their vision is not impaired," he added. "I always say, 'look twice and then look again.'"

    (previous story)

    13-year-old girl struck while crossing Old Stage Road in Fallbrook

    FALLBROOK - A 13-year-old girl struck by a vehicle while crossing a Fallbrook street today was flown to a hospital with life-threatening injuries, fire officials said.

    She attempted to cross Old Stage Road near Pippin Drive, about 2 p.m., according to the California Highway Patrol and the North County Fire Protection District.

    The girl had run toward the other side of the street to get ice cream, when she was hit, NCFPD spokesman John Buchanan said.

    The vehicle remained on scene following the crash, Buchanan said.

    According to a CHP dispatcher, the vehicle's driver was not arrested. It was unclear if a citation was issued.

 

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