Being hit by a car while crossing a street is already a terrible prospect. Yet on Feb. 28, 2014, one pedestrian in Brandon was unlucky enough to be hit five times, by five separate vehicles. According to reports, the man was dead by the time the last two vehicles struck him.According to local sheriff reports, the victim, a 57-year-old homeless man, was hit by the first vehicle while attempting to cross a street at 4:30 a.m. The first driver, a 19-year-old woman, stopped to call 911 after throwing him into the middle of the road with her 2005 Ford Focus. A man driving a 2005 Toyota Tacoma pickup then struck the immobilized man. He claimed that he had seen some women on the road jumping and crying, and then immediately felt the impact of his car hitting a body. That driver left his vehicle and tried to divert traffic away from the wounded pedestrian. However, the victim was hit a third time by the driver of a 2005 Ford Crown Victoria, who failed to notice the roadblock. The third driver stopped to wait for deputies, but the victim was struck a fourth time by two pickup drivers who sped away from the scene of the accident.A spokesperson for Hillsborough County's sheriff noted that pedestrian fatalities involving this many vehicles are rare, but can happen on a road that is especially busy, or has dark spots. In addition, the accidents occurred in the obscure early morning hours, and the victim was reportedly wearing dark colors that made him hard to see.It is important for all drivers to drive defensively. Old or disabled pedestrians, children and pedestrians in dark colors can often be hard to see while driving. A momentary lapse or visibility issue can cause a lifetime of regret or legal consequences for a driver implicated in a fatal accident, even if one's driving record was perfect before the incident.However, the victim's family pays the heaviest price of all. They are entitled to compensation for their damages, such as pain, suffering, loss of companionship, lost income and funeral expenses. A Tampa area personal injury attorney can provide guidance and advocacy to surviving family members after a loved one's fatal accident. Source: Tampa Bay Times, "Five vehicles strike pedestrian in fatal Brandon crash" Jimmy Guerts and Dan Sullivan, Feb. 28, 2014
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