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We are deeply saddened to read about an accident yesterday afternoon in Norfolk that left a 12-year-old dead on E. Princess Anne Road. Police are investigating how a 12-year-old boy was hit and killed by a box truck in Norfolk.
A report on WAVY.com noted the collision occurred just before 5 p.m. in the 2700 block of E. Princess Anne Road. This part of the road is a school zone, running in front of Richard Bowling Elementary and the new Broad Creek library.
The boy was hit by a box truck. The news channel reported that the driver immediately stopped the vehicle and remained on the accident scene, according to police. The road was closed off for four hours as police investigated.
News stations reported the 12-year-old was crossing the street after leaving the nearby library. Princess Anne Road has a crosswalk at the intersection with Majestic Avenue. Police had not confirmed whether or not the child was crossing the road on the crosswalk.
Our thoughts are with the family of the deceased child at this tragic time. The drivers of box trucks have a responsibility to look out for children and other hazards in residential areas and to moderate their speed.
The child killed by a box truck in Norfolk marked the second time a child has been killed by a vehicle on the streets of Norfolk in the space of a month. A 14-year-old boy died earlier this month the day before he was due to start high school.
The teen was trying to cross the intersection of Shoop and Peronne avenues on a scooter just before 8 p.m. when he was hit by a car. He was pronounced dead at the accident scene.
Box trucks often operate on smaller suburban streets that tractor-trailers do not drive down. Although they are smaller than 18-wheelers these are very heavy and dangerous vehicles.
Box trucks are often driven by delivery drivers who are on a tight schedule. They may be speeding and rushing to keep up with a schedule. The increase in deliveries associated with the expansion of companies like Amazon may see more deadly box trucks on the roads.
Box trucks are also dangerous because they are high sided and can tip over. They have large blind spots, so a driver may not see you if you are driving beside a box truck.
Alarmingly, you can often drive a box truck without holding a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL. A very inexperienced driver can be behind the wheel of a big truck. When people are moving they often driver U-Hauls and Penske trucks with little prior experience. They have to cope with multiple distractions and stresses.
Depending on how they are loaded, box trucks may tip over easily. They can cause accidents when driven too fast around a curve.
Over the last few weeks, we have seen a spate of tragic and serious accidents involving pedestrians in Hampton Roads. If you or a loved one has been hurt in a car, truck, or motorcycle accident in Norfolk, please call our experienced personal injury lawyers at (757) 455-0077.