Tijuana doctors speak up for pedestrian victims

As many as 30 pedestrians are struck by motor vehicles in Tijuana each week — and few of them survive, a recent report issued by health authorities revealed.

The report, in the form of a press release, was prepared by emergency-room physicians at Tijuana's General Hospital and trauma surgeons at the city's Red Cross hospital, according to a September 29 story published by El Sol de Tijuana.

According to the report, particularly vulnerable are the elderly, who suffer from mobility problems and are sometimes not respected by drivers on Tijuana's public thoroughfares. Serious injuries and death are common.

Some victims spend weeks at a time in intensive care and no one comes to ask about them, said health officials. Sometimes the patients die before anyone is able to identify them.

At least two and as many as four people a day are struck by motor vehicles on Tijuana streets, according to the report. When pedestrians of any age try to cross major highways on foot, the victims usually die at the scene.

Other pedestrian-vehicle collisions can occur on just about any city street, according to the report. Such accidents are often caused by impatient drivers and the victims are frequently elderly.

There is a lack of culture and understanding for elderly pedestrians among Tijuana drivers, noted the physicians in the Hospital General press release.