Life giving you lemons right after graduation is rather common these days, but one student from Washington DC didn’t expect it to happen way too soon. Apart from the heavy rain that ruined her graduation getup, a speeding white car also slammed into her, even though she was already using the crosswalk. What’s even more infuriating is how the nearby cops didn’t seem to care, leading to a rather heated debate about pedestrian rights.
The incident happened around May 17 when students from a Washington DC university were fleeing from the sudden, heavy rainfall on 700 Monroe St. As they were running across the street via a crosswalk, a white sedan suddenly drove through their crowd, hitting one of the graduates rather hard, with an audible thud. Thankfully, the woman who got hit didn’t get knocked down, and the driver who hit her didn’t flee and even asked if she was okay.
Apparently, the graduate was shielding her face from the rain and was covering her right side from the rain, which meant she couldn’t see the incoming car. However, some might argue that that doesn’t matter since she was on a crosswalk and the walk light was clearly lit; otherwise, the crowd wouldn’t have crossed. Moreover, simply using the crosswalk typically means drivers should yield to pedestrians, as is the ideal road ethic.
Funny enough, a couple of police patrols were nearby, and one of them was also inside a nearby Trader Joe’s, which offered a full, visible view of the incident. It appears none of them went after the car that possibly tried to beat a red light and ran through a crosswalk crowd. The odd police reaction has since sparked off a debate about pedestrian rights.
Who’s at Fault?
Thankfully, much of the most “liked” replies on the Instagram footage agree that the car and its driver were fully at fault, not only because the crossing sign was lit but also because a crowd was already using the crosswalk for them to rush at that speed.
Additionally, the lack of concern from the police and how nearly everyone in the vicinity simply brushed off the driving accident has people worried, as many car owners appear to prioritize their own interests over those of pedestrians. It appears the victim didn’t seem injured too badly, so Instagram user thekutekoala, who posted the video, joked about the incident, turning the car accident into a symbol for how the economy will welcome 2025 graduates.
Still, some people were visibly upset that the white car’s driver seemed to have driven away unpunished, with many stating that their license should’ve been revoked for running into a crosswalk crowd.
“Doesnโt even matter. If thereโs 20 people crossing. You donโt go,” argues anthony_mancino23
“Cars fault. Pedestrians had the walk signal,” claims ish_ofthe_gram
“Everyone saying it was the car fault but it wasn’t. The car wouldn’t have done that was it not for the person driving. It’s always the driverโs fault. Please leave cars alone,” jokes liminally_ill
“One of the things that piss me of the most is people in cars, protected from the rain, that donโt bother to give way to pedestrians,” points out Beyond_clueless745
“Police do not care,” according to Confused-Gent
