Reports coming out of El Paso, Texas state that Adrian Arellano was involved in a fatal vehicle accident. Arellano was a police officer and had been with the police department for ten years. He was in a funeral procession at the time, off-duty and as an escort, riding a motorcycle, with all of his lights and sirens activated. The accident occurred on Edgemere Boulevard and Yarbrough Drive at about 2 PM. Law enforcement states that an officer was directing traffic at the intersection stated above when Maria Soto, the driver of a Honda Civic, entered the intersection and collided with Arellano. He was thrown off of the motorcycle. He was taken to the hospital but died from the injuries sustained in the accident. Soto, as well as one of her passengers, who is 14, were taken to the hospital. They were both injured, but not grievously. Police state that Soto clearly disregarded the officer’s directing of the traffic.
It is absolutely imperative, as a driver, to be conscious of pedestrians and those on motorcycles and bikes. It is also necessary to pay attention to police officers directing traffic, as it seems that these sorts of accidents are not uncommon. When one sees an officer directing traffic at an intersection or on the road, the driver is required to decrease their speed, so as not to collide with the person on-foot. We wonder if this incident could trigger a wrongful death claim.
— Article by Richard D. Weaver, a Texas personal injury attorney.
