Southern California Car Accident Lawyer Blog

Roy Anguiano, a taxicab passenger suffered severe injuries after the cab was struck head-on by a catering truck, which officials say, was being operated by a drunk driver. According to this news report in the Village News, this accident in northern San Diego County occurred January 12, 2009 near the intersection of East Fallbrook Street and MacDonald Road. The driver of the catering truck, identified as 36-year-old Jorge Alcaraz, had a blood alcohol level of 0.19, more than twice the legal limit of 0.08 percent.

Alcaraz was traveling westbound on Fallbrook Street when he drifted into the eastbound lane, striking the taxicab on the passenger side. California Highway Patrol officials say it wasn’t clear whether Alcaraz was planning on making a turn into MacDonald, but that it was clear he wasn’t paying attention. Anguiano suffered severe injuries to his face, neck and head. He needed more than 15 stitches to his eyebrows and eyelids. The taxi driver did not suffer major injuries. Alcaraz was arrested for driving under the influence. He could face felony charges because of Anguiano’s severe injuries.

I’m extremely relieved for Roy Anguiano and his family, to learn he survived this horrible DUI crash, which could have easily caused catastrophic or even fatal injuries. I’m also relieved that the taxi driver did not suffer serious injuries. I wish Anguiano the best for a speedy physical and emotional recovery. Such an experience can be very traumatic.

Continue reading " Drunk Catering Truck Driver Causes San Diego County Injury Crash " »

At least two people were injured in an Irvine auto accident after a driver ran a red light and crashed into another vehicle, The Orange County Register reports in this news article. The injury auto accident occurred at about 6:30 a.m. on January 27, 2009 when the driver of a silver Chrysler sport utility vehicle ran a red light while exiting the northbound off-ramp of the San Diego (405) Freeway and crashed into a Mitsubishi that was headed east on Jeffrey Road. Emergency personnel transported at least two people to the hospital, but they did not suffer life-threatening injuries.

I’m relieved that no one suffered catastrophic or fatal auto accident injuries. This could have been a lot worse. I wish the injured victims the very best for a speedy and complete recovery.

According to statistics from the California Highway Patrol, there were 11 fatal traffic collisions and 869 auto accidents involving injuries in Irvine in 2006. In Orange County as a whole, 199 deaths and 14,981 injuries were reported as a result of auto accidents during that same period.

Continue reading " Orange County Auto Accident Injures Two " »

Sergey Ryssev, 22, was killed in a Concord auto accident after his car crashed into the back of a parked big rig, the Contra Costa Times reports in this article. The accident was discovered the night of January 25, 2009. A passing ambulance crew saw Ryssev’s 1994 BMW 325 wedged under the back of a big rig parked on Park Chicago Highway beneath the Highway 4 overpass.

Concord police, who are investigating this accident, are trying to pinpoint when and how this tragic auto accident may have occurred. Investigators say there were no tire marks near the big rig suggesting that Ryssev did not try to slow down his car before crashing into the big rig. The autopsy concluded that Ryssev died from massive trauma.

I offer my deepest condolences to everyone who knew and loved Sergey Ryssev. He was apparently a talented mechanic and a promising race car driver. His untimely death is no doubt a heartbreaking loss for Ryssev’s family and friends. Please keep them in your prayers.

Going by the newspaper article, residents and motorists in that area have apparently long complained about trailer big rigs parked beneath the overpass, which they say, poses a significant hazard to drivers coming from nearby off-ramps and streets. It seems that these big rigs are also illegally parked under the overpass and have no business being there. Signs in the area prohibit vehicles taller than 6 feet from parking there. In addition, Ryssev’s friends and acquaintances told the newspaper that he never raced on the street.

Continue reading " Illegally Parked Big Rig May Have Caused Concord Fatal Auto Accident " »

Relatives of three sailors, who died after a helicopter crashed off the San Diego coast during a U.S. Navy training mission, have filed a product liability lawsuit against seven companies that manufactured and sold the aircraft and its parts. The four victims who died in that crash were: Lt. j.g. Laura J. Mankey of West Hills; Lt. Adam Dyer, 28, of Lafayette, Louisiana; Petty Officer 1st Class Cory Helman, 27, of New Richmond, Wis.; and Petty Officer 2ns Class Christopher Will, 29, of Warren, Michigan. Our source for this blog was this Associated Press news report.

The lawsuit was filed on January 23, 2009 in Los Angeles County Superior Court. The suit alleges that several parts of the MH-60S helicopter were defective, which caused the deadly January 2007 crash. The lawsuit names the helicopter’s manufacturer, Sikorsky Aircraft, and other companies that manufactured the components for the aircraft: Alcoa, Pacific Scientific, Hi-Shear Corp; Parker-Hannifin Corp. and General Electric. The helicopter apparently had been on a training exercise on January 26, 2007 prior to the crash and had taken off from the amphibious assault ship Bonhomme Richard

Continue reading " Families File Suit in Fatal San Diego Navy Helicopter Crash " »

An El Monte woman who was killed in a two-car crash in Covina has been identified as 44-year-old Maribel Gonzalez. According to a news report in the San Gabriel Valley Tribune, Gonzalez was a passenger in a Mitsubishi Lancer that collided with a Mazda truck the evening of January 23, 2009. The Los Angeles County auto accident occurred on Rowland Street at 2nd Avenue. Gonzalez was pronounced dead on the scene from blunt force trauma. The driver of the Lancer, a 47-year-old Covina man, suffered serious injuries. The driver of the Mazda truck was not injured.

Some witnesses told police officials that the Lancer was being driven west on Rowland Street at a high rate of speed with no headlights on. The first police officer on scene apparently found the truck still in the intersection and the Lancer on the northwest curb and sidewalk. Officials have not said whether drugs or alcohol played a part in this deadly Los Angeles auto crash.

I offer my deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Maribel Gonzalez. Please keep them in your prayers.

Continue reading " Los Angeles County Street Intersection Accident Leaves One Dead " »

Uninsured motorists are getting to be a growing problem in California as the state sinks deeper into a recession, the Los Angeles Business Journal reports in this article. According to a new study from the Insurance Research Council, California will likely rise above the 2007 uninsured motorist rate of 18 percent. By 2010, the study estimates that one in six drivers in California will be uninsured. Experts attribute the rise in uninsured motorists to the economic downturn.

So, who is the most affected by this phenomenon? Responsible drivers who purchase insurance are the ones who end up paying for injuries caused by uninsured drivers. The Council estimated that the number of uninsured motorists actually decreased nationally from 14.9 percent in 2003 to 13.8 percent in 2007. California ranked seventh at 18 percent. New Mexico was the worst with 29 percent uninsured drivers while Massachusetts the best at 1 percent. The number of uninsured drivers is usually related to the unemployment rates. As unemployment increases, so does the percentage of people who drive without car insurance. Based on current unemployment rates nationally, the percentage of uninsured motorists is expected to go over 16 percent in 2010.

Continue reading " California Sees Significant Increase in Number of Uninsured Motorists " »

Two persons were injured in a Santa Clarita auto accident, which officials say, was caused by a suspected drunk driver who ran a red light. According to this news report in The Signal, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputies responded to the incident that occurred on January 23, 2009 at the intersection of Magic Mountain Parkway and Valencia Boulevard.

Eyewitnesses told officials that they saw the driver of a black Scion run a red light driving at about 80 mph northbound on Valencia without her lights on. That driver crashed into a silver Nissan that was making a left turn onto Valencia Boulevard. Police said they detected alcohol in the breath of the driver of the Scion and believe it could have been a factor in this traffic collision. Both drivers were injured and transported to an area hospital, but their names were not released.

According to California Highway Patrol’s 2006 statistics, there were a total of 748 traffic accident fatalities in Los Angeles County out of which 276 involved alcohol. During the same year, there were 57,069 traffic accident related injuries out of which 5,057 involved an intoxicated driver.

Continue reading " Los Angeles County DUI Auto Accident Injures Two " »

Donald Truesdail, a 34-year-old music teacher, who was struck and killed in a January 13, 2009 San Diego freeway accident, did not commit suicide, the San Diego Medical Examiner’s Office said. According to this news report in the San Diego Union-Tribune, officials initially believed that Truesdail had intended to kill himself. Truesdail was struck by a truck traveling south on Interstate 5 near 28th Street in Barrio Logan.

But family members objected to the official preliminary determination saying that Truesdail was walking on the freeway because his car had been hit by another vehicle before the accident that killed him. A Medical Examiner’s Office investigator later confirmed that an earlier accident had occurred, supporting the family’s assertion that he was on foot to get help. The second investigation into how the fatal San Diego accident occurred proceeded only after family and friends pressed officials. Truesdail was a beloved music teacher who taught choral and instrumental music in San Diego and El Cajon schools.

My heart goes out to the family, friends and students of Donald Truesdail, who must have been through an emotional rollercoaster after his death. It is not easy grieving for a loved one and not having that closure about the way in which they died. Hopefully, the Medical Examiner’s final determination will help them find that closure.

Continue reading " San Diego Man’s Freeway Death Was an Accident, Not Suicide, Officials Say " »

Ricardo Badillo, 60, of Los Angeles was killed after the driver of a 2001 Ford Explorer crashed into his vehicle head-on. According to this ABC news report, a 30-year-old driver in a 2001 Ford Explorer sideswiped a Ford Mustang and then slammed head-on into Badillo’s Nissan Murano early morning on January 25, 2009. California Highway Patrol officials say that the accident occurred on the 14 Freeway in the southbound lanes near Soledad Canyon Road, an unincorporated area of Los Angeles County. The driver of the Explorer was arrested, but is yet to be charged pending an investigation.

According to this Los Angeles Times article, the driver of the Explorer also suffered major injuries. But officials have detained him to determine whether alcohol or drugs played a part in this tragic Los Angeles County fatal auto accident.

I offer my deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Ricardo Badillo, who only died because he was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Please keep the Badillo family in your prayers.

Continue reading " Man Killed in Los Angeles County Collision Caused by Wrong-Way Driver " »

A 67-year-old woman killed in a car accident caused by a speeding suspect during a police chase in San Bernardino has been identified as Ruby Lene Johnson. According to this news article in the San Bernardino Sun, the accident occurred early morning on January 24, 2009 when police officers were chasing 20-year-old Jose Palacios. He was apparently a hit-and-run suspect who officers were pursuing. The chase reached speeds of up to 100 mph on city streets.

The officers were responding to a hit-and-run collision that occurred at Mount Vernon and Fifth Street. Palacio, who was trying to evade the officers, ran a red light and hit Johnson’s 1995 Toyota Camry at Base Line and Mount Vernon Avenue. Palacios was arrested on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter, driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol and failing to stop for the police.

My heart goes out to the family of Ruby Lene Johnson, who was the tragic victim in this most unfortunate auto accident. I offer my deepest condolences to everyone who knew and loved Johnson.

I sincerely hope Jose Palacios is prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. There is no question here that Palacios put himself, his passenger and other motorists and pedestrians at risk, by driving recklessly and negligently. He also put the lives of our law enforcement officials at risk by leading them on this dangerous pursuit and refusing to stop. There is no doubt that Palacios must be punished.

Continue reading " Innocent Motorist Killed During High Speed Police Chase in San Bernardino " »

Rodolfo Mendez, 35, was ejected and killed in a San Bernardino County rollover accident, according to the Press-Enterprise news report. Mendez was thrown out of his Toyota Tacoma pickup truck when the vehicle overturned after he apparently missed a right turn on Mariposa Road near the Interstate 15 and drove into the desert. California Highway Patrol officials who responded the morning of January 21, 2009, found Mendez’s body in the open desert area between the I-15 and Mariposa Road near the intersection of Eucalyptus Street in Hesperia.

I offer my deepest condolences to everyone who knew and loved Rodolfo Mendez for their heartbreaking loss. Please keep them in your prayers.

According to the California Highway Patrol’s Statewide Integrated Traffic Reporting System, there were 12 fatal San Bernardino traffic accidents and 281 crashes that involved injuries in Hesperia in 2006. During that same year, in San Bernardino County as a whole, there were 351 deaths and 10,842 injuries reported involving auto accidents.

Continue reading " Man Killed in San Bernardino Rollover Crash " »

Sara Vogler, 22, of Saugus, was injured in a Santa Clarita auto accident after the Honda she was driving crashed into a Saturn Vue driven by 22-year-old Greta Nordberg, also of Saugus. According to this news report in The Signal the injury accident occurred January 16, 2009 at the intersection of Bouquet Canyon and Newhall Ranch roads.

When the Saturn and the Honda collided, the impact of the crash caused the Honda to roll over. The Saturn was pushed into the back of a city bus that had stopped ahead of the Saturn. The 11 people, who were in that bus, were not injured. Nordberg was uninjured as well, but emergency personnel transported Vogler to an area hospital. Her condition is not known.

Based on this newspaper report, it is not clear how this accident occurred or who may have been at fault here. I’m glad that none of the bus passengers was injured and that this incident did not result in catastrophic or fatal injuries. I wish the injured victim, Sara Vogler, the very best for a quick and complete recovery.

Continue reading " Woman Injured in Santa Clarita Auto Accident " »

The family of one of five people, who were killed in a two single-engine plane crash over Corona a year ago, has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the estates of the pilots of the two airplanes who were also killed in that crash. According to this news report in The Orange County Register, Scott Lawrence of Cerritos was a passenger in a four-seat Cessna 172. The lawsuit was filed by Lawrence’s former wife, Sarah Lawrence, his son Bradford and daughter Brianna Moeller.

The Cessna 172 was piloted by 73-year-old Paul Carlson and the Cessna 150 by 24-year-old Brandon William Johnson of Costa Mesa. Also killed in this tragic crash were Anthony Joel Guzman, 20, of Yorba Linda and Earl Smiddy of Moreno Valley, who was killed when he was sitting at his desk at the Corona Chevrolet dealership when falling debris from the aircraft fell through the building’s roof. The suit also names William Reinke, a veteran flight instructor from La Habra, who rented the Cessna 172 to Carlson and Mike Branigan, general manager of the Corona Flight Academy who owns the Cessna 150.

Witness reports state that one plane was headed east while the other was going north when the planes collided mid-air. Neither pilot appeared to take any action to avoid the catastrophic collision, eyewitnesses told officials. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), which is investigating this crash, has not yet determined who was at fault.

Continue reading " Family of Corona Plane Crash Victim Files Wrongful Death Lawsuit " »

Lou E. Ferrar, 23, of Oceanside was killed in a Vista motorcycle accident on January 19, 2009, according to this North County Times article. California Highway Patrol officials said Ferrar crashed in the center lane of the westbound Highway 78 near Sycamore Avenue.

Officials however are still not clear how exactly this San Diego County motorcycle crash occurred. According to this earlier news report, CHP officials were not sure whether another vehicle was involved. Officials later said that Ferrar was “speeding when he hit another vehicle.” Ferrar died soon after the incident occurred. The other motorist has not been identified.

My heart goes out to the family of Lou E. Ferrar for their tragic loss. I offer my deepest sympathies to them. Please keep this young man’s family in your prayers.

Continue reading " Man Killed in San Diego County Motorcycle Accident " »

Joe Michael Rowan, 50, of Oxnard suffered severe injuries after the Honda Element he was driving crashed trying to avoid debris from an earlier big rig accident on the southbound 101 Freeway in Camarillo, according to the Ventura County Star news report. The accident occurred the morning of January 17, 2009 when a big rig driven by 53-year-old Prisciliano Gonzalez veered off the road and into a 12,000-pound freeway sign. The big rig driver drifted off the right shoulder of the freeway for an unknown reason, California Highway Patrol officials said.

Gonzalez plowed into 75 feet of guardrail before he hit the sign. The truck’s cab split into two and ripped away from the tractor. Gonzalez was taken to an area hospital where he is listed in critical condition. The collision scattered debris all over the freeway including crates of carrots the truck was carrying, debris from the big rig and parts of the damaged guardrail.

Minutes after the big rig crashed, Rowan, who swerved to avoid the big rig, lost control of his Honda Element and went off the road. He was apparently found bleeding from the face and head and was taken to the hospital as well. The tractor-trailer that crashed was owned by Jet Trucking of Greenfield. There were several other accidents because of the debris and the chaotic traffic, but it is not known if anyone else was seriously injured in those incidents.

Continue reading " Man Injured in Camarillo Following Big Rig Accident " »

Lourdes Ruiz Ramirez Ortiz, a 47-year-old Ensenada woman, was killed in a rollover accident on the Interstate 15 in Ontario, according to the Riverside Press-Enterprise news report. This fatal rollover crash occurred the morning of January 17, 2009 along the southbound lanes of the 15 Freeway near Fourth Street. California Highway Patrol officials said Ortiz was a passenger in a 1993 Toyota Tercel when she was ejected as the car flipped over after being sideswiped by a 2006 Nissan Maxima.

My heart goes out to the family of Lourdes Ruiz Ramirez Ortiz for their tragic and heartbreaking loss. I offer my deepest sympathies to them. Please keep this family in your prayers.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) statistics show that a majority of traffic accident fatalities occur during rollover accidents. According to the NHTSA, 25 percent of auto accident fatalities in the United States each year occur in rollover crashes.

Continue reading " Woman Ejected and Killed in Ontario Rollover Crash " »

Otilia Quintana, 47, of Lake Elsinore, died in a big rig accident after the car she was driving crashed into a flatbed semi-truck on the Riverside (91) Freeway in Corona, CBS news reports. The January 17, 2009 car versus truck collision occurred on the 91 Freeway at Serfas Club Drive just east of Prado Dam and the Corona (71) Expressway. Quintana lost control of her sedan and ended up colliding with the big rig. California Highway Patrol is apparently investigating this crash.

My heart goes out to the family of Otilia Quintana. I offer my deepest sympathies to them for their tragic and untimely loss. Please keep this family in your prayers.

California ranks highest in the nation for big rig or large commercial truck accidents. In 2006, there were more than 12,800 fatal truck accidents in California, according to statistics provided by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), the federal agency which monitors trucking companies.

Continue reading " Woman Killed in Corona Big Rig Accident " »

The 23-year-old man killed the morning of January 13, 2009 in a motorcycle versus car collision in a Valencia intersection in the Santa Clarita valley was identified as Peter Neptune of Lancaster, according to this CBS news report. The fatal Los Angeles County motorcycle accident apparently occurred at Wiley Canyon and Tournament Roads.

Santa Clara Valley Sheriff’s officials say Neptune was riding his motorcycle west on Wiley Canyon Road when he struck a Honda driven by 25-year-old Dejah Morris of Newhall, who had just made a left turn onto northbound Tournament Road. The impact from the crash caused the Honda to flip on its driver’s side. Neptune was taken to an area hospital where he died from his injuries. Morris was treated for minor injuries.

I offer my deepest condolences to the family of Peter Neptune for their tragic and untimely loss. Please keep this family in your prayers.

According to California Highway Patrol’s Statewide Integrated Traffic Reporting System, there was one fatal Santa Clarita motorcycle accident and 48 motorcycle accidents involving injuries in Santa Clarita in 2006. In Los Angeles County as a whole, there were 78 motorcycle accident deaths and 2,168 injuries related to motorcycle crashes in 2006.

Continue reading " Man Killed in Santa Clarita Motorcycle Accident " »

A 44-year-old motorcyclist suffered critical injuries in an Escondido motorcycle accident on January 13, 2009, after he was struck by a car that backed out of a driveway, according to the North County Times news report. The man was riding his Suzuki motorcycle east in the 100 block of West 15th Avenue when a Toyota Camry backed out of a driveway in front of him, Escondido police officials said.

The driver of the Camry stopped at the scene of the collision. When police arrived they saw the motorcyclist semi-conscious on the roadway. The motorcyclist suffered a broken neck and leg injuries. The driver of the Camry, identified as an Escondido man, was not injured. Anyone who witnessed this San Diego County auto accident is asked to call Officer Scott Christensen at 760-839-4962.

I’m relieved that this motorcyclist did not suffer fatal injuries as a result of this car versus motorcycle collision. I am however concerned that he was diagnoses with a broken neck. I pray that this does not leave him with lifelong injuries or disabilities and wish him the very best for a speedy and complete recovery.

Continue reading " Man Injured in San Diego County Motorcycle Accident " »

One person suffered critical injuries in a Los Angeles County multi-vehicle collision that occurred after one driver, who was racing another car, lost control and crashed. According to this news report in the Los Angeles Times, two cars were racing on the 60 Freeway near the 710 Freeway early morning on January 12, 2009, when the driver of one of those vehicles lost control of his vehicle causing a chain reaction crash involving at least six vehicles.

Los Angeles County Fire authorities said at least one car caught fire. Bystanders were apparently pulling out several people from the flames. One person was taken to Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center in critical condition and one other person was treated for minor injuries at the scene. It is not known if anyone else suffered injuries in this accident.

I’m relieved that no one died in this fiery chain reaction accident. The critically injured auto accident victim will certainly be in my prayers. I hope he or she has a quick and complete recovery and also hope no one else suffered major injuries in this unfortunate and unnecessary Los Angeles street racing accident.

Continue reading " Street Racing Causes Multi-Vehicle Los Angeles Freeway Accident " »

One motorist was hospitalized after he was seriously injured in an Orange auto accident, according to the Orange County Register in this article. The driver of a Mercedes Benz was traveling east on Orangewood. The Mercedes entered the intersection of State College when the light turned green. It was at that time that the Mercedes was broadsided by a Ford Excursion SUV, whose driver officials say, ran a red light.

Officials did not release the names of the injured victim or the driver of the Excursion. The driver of the Excursion denied medical treatment. A third vehicle, a Lexus, apparently sustained minor damage when the Mercedes lost control following the impact, Anaheim police officials said. Other motorists at the busy intersection, who witnessed the crash, said they saw the Mercedes enter the intersection when the light turned green and saw it get hit by the Ford Excursion. The driver of the Mercedes had to be cut out of his vehicle.

My heart goes out to this injured man who was so clearly the victim in this case. I wish him the very best for a quick and complete recovery. I’m relieved that this accident did not result in catastrophic or fatal injuries.

Continue reading " Man Injured in Orange Traffic Collision " »

Victor Leon, 63, of Palm Desert died in an Indian Wells auto accident January 12, 2009 after his vehicle crashed just north of Highway 111, according to this Desert Sun article. Riverside County Sheriff’s Department officials said Leon was killed when the point of a guardrail pierced his Toyota Prius near the passenger door and impaled Leon at his hip and groin area. The rail is apparently part of a gate some say swung open onto the road. The accident occurred on Miles Avenue between Highway 111 and Warner Trail.

My heart goes out to the family and many friends of Victor Leon, who was apparently a popular local singer in the Palm Springs area. I offer my deepest condolences to everyone who knew and loved Leon. His family members will be in my prayers.

At debate now is who owns that gate that swung open and resulted in a fatal auto injury to Victor Leon. A flag on the gate names the Coachella Valley Water District, but district officials have said that the gate is definitely not owned by the district. Indian Wells city officials have declined to comment on the crash and have said they will not confirm whether the city owns the gate.

Continue reading " Man Killed in Indian Wells Auto Accident " »

Charles George, 62, of Ventura died in a motorcycle accident on January 10, 2009 after his motorcycle was struck by a car, according to the Ventura County Star news report. George was apparently traveling east on Thompson Boulevard and the car was traveling west. The collision occurred as the sedan turned left on Figueroa Street, Ventura police officials said. George was thrown off his motorcycle and was taken to an area hospital where he died a few hours after the accident. The driver of the sedan has not been identified but police have said that the motorist was neither cited nor arrested pending an investigation.

My heart goes out to the family of Charles George for their tragic loss. Please keep them in your prayers.

According to the California Highway Patrol Statewide Integrated Traffic Reporting System, in Ventura County, there were 12 motorcycle accident related fatalities and 238 related injuries reported in 2006. Based on this newspaper report, it appears to me that the driver of the sedan was at fault for this fatal Ventura motorcycle crash. I’d say the car’s driver did not see the motorcyclist, George, while making that left turn.

Continue reading " Man Killed in Ventura Motorcycle Accident " »

Motorcycle accident fatalities are reaching a record high in Los Angeles County, according to this news report in the Pasadena Star News. California Highway Patrol officials say 96 people died in motorcycle collisions in 2008 in Los Angeles County compared to 58 deaths in 2001.

In 2007, 85 people died in motorcycle accidents. Statewide, the number of people who are taking to riding motorcycles has increased dramatically over the last five years. About 1.2 million Californians have licenses to drive motorcycles, according to the Department of Motor Vehicles. That is 300,000 more riders than in 2001.

These are shockingly high numbers for Los Angeles County, no doubt. However, it is important to remember that motorcycle accidents occur for a number of reasons. Like any Southern California auto accident, speed, alcohol and driver error could play a role. But then, a number of collisions also have to do with other motorists on the road – including those of us who drive cars, trucks, SUVs and big rigs – not paying attention to the road. Especially, we see more instances of drivers failing to notice motorcyclists as they are passing an intersection or riding on the freeway. This makes motorcyclists all the more vulnerable on our roadways.

Continue reading " Los Angeles County Sees Sharp Increase in Motorcycle Accident Deaths " »

Four students were injured in a school bus versus car accident in Concow, according to a Chico Enterprise Record article. The accident occurred the afternoon of January 6, 2008 when a bus full of kindergarten through eighth grade students from Spring Valley and Concow schools were traveling home northbound on Concow Road. The bus was struck by a red Honda Civic driven by 22-year-old Guy Beauregard Chancellor.

Chancellor apparently lost control of his vehicle while trying to maneuver a curve on the wet and sandy roadway, crossed into the northbound lane from the southbound lane striking the front left section of the school bus. The impact of the crash coupled with the driver’s attempt to avoid the collision by braking, sent many of the children lurching forward in the bus, which did not have seatbelts. California Highway Patrol officials said four children complained of dizziness after hitting the seat in front of them with their heads. Two children were taken to the hospital, but officials say none suffered major injuries.

I’m extremely relived for all the students and their parents that this was not a major accident. I wish the four injured children a speedy physical and emotional recovery from what must have been a traumatic school bus accident.

Continue reading " School Bus Versus Car Accident Injures Four Children " »

A cyclist struck and fatally injured by a car on January 6, 2009 in Rancho Bernardo in San Diego County, has been identified as 55-year-old retired Navy captain, Walter Carl Joller Jr. According to this news report in the North County Times, Joller was nearing the end of his 55-mile bicycle commute from the Point Loma area of San Diego and was on Sabre Springs Parkway when a BMW drifted into the bike lane and struck him.

Joller was apparently an incredible athlete, experienced bicyclist and a program manager at Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command at Point Loma. My heart goes out to his family and I offer my deepest condolences to everyone who knew and loved this man, who by all accounts was a remarkable person.

Continue reading " San Diego Bicycle Accident Kills Retired Navy Captain " »

Anel Slagoski, 31, and her 5-year-old son, James, were killed in a Los Angeles County freeway accident on January 7, 2009, the Whittier Daily News reports. Slagoski, her son and another 11-year-old girl were southbound on the 101 Freeway near Sunset Boulevard in a 1999 Volkswagen Cabriolet. California Highway Patrol officials say Slagoski drifted across one lane then overcorrected, swerved right and hit the guardrail separating the freeway from the Sunset Boulevard off-ramp.

The car rolled several times. Both Slagoski and her son, James, who was sitting in the car’s left rear seat, were ejected from the vehicle and died at the scene. An unidentified 11 year-old girl, who was sitting in the front passenger seat suffered minor injuries. CHP officials are saying that alcohol was not a factor in this crash and Slagoski did not fall asleep at the wheel.

My heart goes out to the family of Anel Slagoski for their tragic loss. I’m relieved, however, that the girl escaped with only minor injuries. Please keep the Slagoski family in your prayers. I wish the girl the very best for a speedy physical and emotional recovery.

Continue reading " Mother and 5-year-old Son Killed in Los Angeles Rollover Crash " »

Robert James Fryer, 48, of Moreno Valley was killed in a Menifee motorcycle accident on January 5, 2008, The Press-Enterprise reports. Fryer’s female passenger, who was not identified, suffered major injuries. Fryer was traveling south on Menifee Road approaching Simpson Road when he lost control of his motorcycle. The motorcycle landed in a dirt field south of the intersection. Fryer died at the scene. His passenger was taken to a local hospital.

I offer my deepest condolences to the family of Robert James Fryer for their tragic loss. My heart also goes out to his passenger who was seriously injured in this Riverside County motorcycle accident. I wish her the very best for a speedy and complete recovery.

According to California Highway Patrol’s Statewide Integrated Traffic Reporting System, there were 29 deaths and 487 injuries reported relating to motorcycle accidents in Riverside County in 2006.

Continue reading " Man Killed in Menifee Motorcycle Accident " »

Kirk Gordon Sladen, 49, of Placentia, died in a motorcycle accident on State Route 243 on December 30, 2008. According to this news report in The Press Enterprise, Sladen collided with a sport utility vehicle on Highway 243 near Highway 74. Sladen was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident. California Highway Patrol officials also say Sladen was wearing a helmet at the time of the accident.

My heart goes out to the family of Kirk Gordon Sladen, who was killed in this Riverside County motorcycle accident. I offer my deepest condolences to them.

According to California Highway Patrol’s Statewide Integrated Traffic Reporting System, there were 29 motorcycle accident fatalities in Riverside County in 2006 and 487 motorcycle accident related injuries.

Continue reading " Orange County Man Killed in Motorcycle Accident " »

Felipe Cisneros Arroyo, 58, of Pasadena was killed in a Chevy Trailblazer rollover accident on January 2, 2008. According to this news report in the Pasadena Star News, Arroyo was driving a 2003 Chevy Trailblazer northbound on the 5 Freeway near Santa Clarita when he lost control and veered into the center divider. The sport utility vehicle rolled over several times. California Highway Patrol officials say Arroyo suffered severe head trauma and died at the scene.

I offer my deepest condolences to Felipe Cisneros Arroyo’s family for their tragic loss. Please keep this family in your prayers.

Rollover accidents are the leading cause of traffic accident fatalities in the United States. According to statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there are more than 40,000 traffic accident related deaths in the United States each year and more than 10,000 of those are rollover crashes. SUVs, because of their narrow track width and high center of gravity and inherent instability, tend to be involved in a number of fatal and major SUV injury rollover accidents.

Continue reading " Pasadena Man Killed in SUV Rollover Crash " »

A runaway big rig carrying hazardous materials crashed into many vehicles on the Interstate 5 near Fort Tejon north of Los Angeles. California Highway Patrol officials say the driver of the big rig lost control and struck the vehicles in the December 31, 2008 accident on a stretch of downhill highway. The truck driver apparently told officials that he lost his brakes before the crash. Our source for this blog was this article on KTLA’s Web site. CHP officials said 11 people were injured out of which four suffered major injuries.

This is a horrific ">California big rig accident that could have been a lot worse. I’m relieved to hear that the victims who suffered major injuries are expected to survive. I wish all the injured victims the very best for a speedy and complete recovery.

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s truck accident statistics, there were 361 fatal accidents involving large trucks in California in 2007 and 10,635 injury accidents involving big rigs during that same time. California tops the list of states with the highest number of fatal and major injury big rig accidents.

Continue reading " Fort Tejon Big Rig Accident Injures 11 " »

Thelma McLaughlin, 92, of Beaumont, was killed in a broadside crash when the car she was a passenger in was struck by another vehicle on December 30, 2008, according to this news blog. McLaughlin was in the front seat of a Chevy Lumina when the driver, who was heading west on Yucaipa Boulevard, turned left into a shopping center at Yucaipa Valley Center. Another driver, who was heading east on Yucaipa Boulevard, entered the same intersection as the Chevy Lumina made the turn and broadsided the vehicle.

I offer my deepest condolences to the family of Thelma McLaughlin for their loss. A ">Riverside car accident is such a sudden and heartbreaking way to lose a loved one. Please keep this family in your prayers.

This fatal auto accident is a clear example of how devastating a side-impact crash can be. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), most deadly side-angle crashes in the year 2005 were broadside crashes. These types of traffic collisions typically occur at right angles. About 62.5 percent of fatal side-angle crashes are broadsides.

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Two people who were killed in a head-on collision on the Ortega Highway on January 1, 2009 were identified as Yesica Lopez, 22, of Perris and Abel Ortega, 19. According to a news report in The Orange County Register, 21-year-old Quintin Garza, a U.S. Marine from Camp Pendleton, has been arrested and faces two vehicular manslaughter charges and one count of felony DUI in connection with this fatal drunk driving auto accident.

Garza is suspected of speeding westbound on the 74 Highway at Betty Road. California Highway Patrol officials say he lost control of his sedan, veered to the eastbound side of the highway and struck the left front of a 2000 Ford driven by Lopez. Both Lopez and her passenger, Ortega, died in the crash. Officials are waiting for the results of a blood test to file official charges.

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Colby White Olson, 16, of Laytonville, was killed in a Redwood Valley rollover accident on December 23, 2008, after the vehicle’s driver lost control and veered off Highway 101. According to a news report in the Record Bee, Hugo L. Macias Jr., 20, was driving his 1994 Geo Tracker south on Highway 101 and was traveling down a grade when he suddenly veered right off the highway and plummeted down a ravine. The vehicle rolled over several times and Olson was ejected from the vehicle. Macias was taken to a local hospital with major injuries. Both Olson and Macias were wearing seatbelts.

My heart goes out to the family of young Colby White Olson, who died in this tragic rollover accident. I offer my deepest condolences to his family and friends. I also wish the driver, Hugo L. Macias Jr., the very best for a quick and complete recovery. Please keep them all in your prayers.

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Many are saying that a poorly designed freeway transition at the 605 and 10 freeways in Baldwin Park has caused many dangerous big-rig accidents. According to this news report in the Pasadena Star News, since July 27, 2008, at least five trucks have tipped within a few hundred feet of a transition road between the two interstates. A look further back in time shows a similar record, with truck after truck overturning at that same interchange.

The 605 and 10 interchange is also apparently the 19th busiest freeway interchange in California. About 438,000 vehicles use it daily. California Highway Patrol officials are saying that truck drivers simply need to slow down to avoid chaos at that interchange. Big-rig drivers say these California truck accidents occur because of other “rude drivers.” But the obvious question that jumps out here is: Why do big rigs specifically topple at this interchange?

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A 35-year-old mother of two, who died in a December 29, 2008 head-on collision in Ramona, has been identified as Melissa Jean Day, according to this news report. Day was driving south on Highway 67 near Mount Woodson north of Poway Road in her 1994 Ford Ranger when a northbound 2002 Ford Ranger struck a curb and veered into her path. Day’s daughters ages 11 and 14 were airlifted to the hospital for injuries ranging from broken bones to lacerations. The driver of the other vehicle, a 17-year-old Ramona boy, and his 15-year-old female passenger suffered non life-threatening injuries.

What a horrible tragedy for the Day family! My heart goes out to Melissa Jean Day’s two daughters and the rest of the family for their tragic loss. I wish the two girls the very best for a quick and complete physical and emotional recovery. Please keep this family in your prayers.

Continue reading " Woman Killed in San Diego County Head-On Collision " »