The loss of a loved one leaves an emotional wound that is difficult to ease, especially under the shadow of questions about the circumstances of the accident that resulted in the fatality. The case of a man who was struck and killed while walking along Red Bluff Road near Sandpiper Road in Horry County last month, a potential wrongful death, is what brings this issue to mind.

According to authorities, the man was walking illegally on the roadway and they say that he was wearing dark clothes when he was run over by a car at about 6:45 p.m. The driver of the car was not hurt. The 50-year-old victim was taken by ambulance to Grand Strand Regional Medical Center. He died there and the official cause of death reportedly was multiple trauma.

Despite the finding by investigators, people who live in the area of the accident offer a different take. They say that street lighting in the area is insufficient and that traffic along the road has started to increase recently, making it more dangerous for area residents.

One man who says the victim was a good friend of his says traffic volume has been getting steadily worse because of nearby Highway 22. He says traffic speed has picked up on the side roads and that drivers don't seem to appreciate that they are driving through a small community. He says his friend was killed just trying to cross the street.

A cousin of the victim also suggests that if the driver had been going at a slower speed, the collision might have been avoidable.

Source: WMBF News, "Family of victim speaks out after fatal Horry Co. collision," Jan. 27, 2012