We all know that freeways are dangerous. Our highly unscientific estimate is that there are about 30 highway traffic incidents reported every hour, which includes everything from "there's a couch in the breakdown lane" to multiple-car crashes with serious injuries. If you're morbid, try the link, which is to the CHP realtime online report center. We know, we're kinda morbid.

Lately, freeways have been particularly hazardous for people on foot. Last night, a pedestrian, who may have been leaving the scene of an accident, was struck and killed on the 405 in North Hills. Earlier this week, at 3:30am Monday, an off-duty Orange County Sheriff stopped to help 2 people in an overturned car — he and one of them were struck and killed by another vehicle. The officer, 24-year old Melvin Guevara, is survived by a wife and 3 kids; the passenger was 22.

We're not sure if the moral of this story is to never get out of your car, or to please look out for pedestrians. Even on the freeway. We suspect it's a little of both.

Photo by Ernesto Andrade via Flickr (Ernesto! Hands on the wheel next time!)