Pregnant Woman Struck by Hit-and-Run Driver

Date: January 6, 2011
Location: Southwest Fourth Avenue & Alder St, Portland
Names: Wondimagagn “Wondi” Ali

A hit-and-run driver struck a pregnant woman and knocked her to the ground in a crosswalk at Southwest Fourth Avenue and Alder Street.

Portland Police were called to the scene after reports were called in that a black SUV had struck the woman at about 12:30pm and driven away. According to witnesses, the woman was in a crosswalk and was crossing on the walk signal.

Witnesses helped the police to find the SUV’s owner, Wondimagagn Ali, age 23 of North Portland, who was booked into the Multnomah County Jail on charges of felony hit-and-run. He was also cited for driving with a suspended license and failure to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk. According to local reports, Ali reportedly told police that he thought he had hit a curb.

The unidentified pregnant woman, age 35, sustained non life-threatening injuries in the Portland pedestrian accident.

We sincerely hope that this woman and the baby she is carrying will not suffer any lasting effects from this unfortunate accident.

If a pedestrian is hit in a crosswalk, it is generally considered the driver’s fault. However, just like everything in the law, there are exceptions. If a pedestrian darts out unexpectedly into an intersection, the law may take the driver’s side. Witnesses at the scene didn’t seem to indicate that this was the case. In most cases, the law will consider it to be the driver’s fault, and the pedestrian or the pedestrian’s family will be able to get legal compensation. All cases are different, of course, so contact a knowledgeable lawyer if you have any questions about your case.

Mr. Ali was arrested for hit-and-run, which is a serious violation of Oregon Vehicle Code 811.705. The hit-and-run driver must be held civilly and criminally responsible for his actions. In a case like this, the woman’s family may be well advised to contact a reputed personal injury attorney with experience in hit-and-run crashes who will fight for the justice and compensation that they deserve. At DuBois Law Group, we believe that what happened to this pedestrian is simply unacceptable; we are committed to making sure that hit-and-run drivers are held accountable for their actions and that both victims and families receive the compensation they deserve.