Obstructed views played a role in the death of a Vernon senior.
Coroner Margaret Janzen has ruled Andrew Joseph Raab, 86, died in Vernon on Jan. 27, 2015, as a result of pneumonia due to stasis due to blunt force trauma sustained in a motor vehicle/pedestrian incident.
“Obstruction of the driver’s view was considered contributory,” said Janzen, who classified Raab’s death as accidental.
Just after 2 p.m. on Jan. 14, 2015, Raab had been walking along the north side of 27th Avenue when a vehicle backing out of a driveway struck him.
Raab was badly injured and was transferred to Vernon Jubilee Hospital. He died two weeks later as a result of his injuries.
The driveway in question was bordered by a chain-link fence, snowbanks and bushes which created obstructions for the driver of pedestrians walking the sidewalk to the east and west of the driveway.
“It was daylight and weather was not a factor,” said Janzen.
The vehicle that struck Raab was examined.
Janzen said there was a sticker on the lower right rear-view mirror and “what appeared to be residue from an old sticker” in the upper centre of the rear-view mirror.
In addition, there was a large cardboard box in the right rear seat.
“All of these things would have created view obstructions for the driver,” said Janzen.
The vehicle was equipped with two side mirrors which were sufficient to view both corners of the vehicle’s rear bumper.