Arrests are not always made at crash scenes. Whether vehicle accidents take place here in Cleveland or elsewhere in the state, further investigation may be required before that decision is made. Often, surveillance footage from cameras in the vicinity play a vital role in determining criminal fault and civil financial responsibility.
Footage from surveillance cameras could prove useful in a recent bus versus pedestrian crash that took place on a recently Monday afternoon. The vehicle involved was musician Gary Numan’s tour bus. The entertainer was supposed to perform at the Cleveland House of Blues that evening, but the appearance had to be cancelled.
As the tour traveled south on East 9th Street here in Cleveland, it began making a right turn in order to head west on Superior Avenue. At the same time, a 91-year-old man was pushing a cart across the street when the bus hit him. He was in the crosswalk at the time.
By the time police arrived, the elderly man had succumbed to the injuries he suffered in the impact. Police do not suspect impairment as a factor in this accident. They released the driver at the scene pending further investigation.
Any information garnered from area video camera footage could help in determining whether the driver will face criminal charges. Even if authorities do not file criminal charges, the footage may be offered as evidence in any civil action filed by the family of the deceased pedestrian. It could provide evidence that negligence caused the death of their loved one. If successful, surviving family members could receive restitution for the documented financial losses that typically accompany fatal vehicle accidents.
