Traffic Accident News

Palm Springs Auto Accident Caused by Mechanical Problem

A mechanical malfunction may have caused a two-car auto accident in Palm Springs the afternoon of March 26, 2009, The Desert Sun reports. The traffic collision occurred as a 1990 BMW headed north on Gene Autry Trail near Vista Chino, veered off the road and hit the center divider, Palm Springs police officials said. The BMW then went into the southbound lane and hit a 2008 silver Mercedes.

The BMW continued down the street, after striking the other vehicle and came to a stop at the sidewalk. Both drivers complained of pain and were taken to local hospitals. Officials said the auto accident was apparently caused by some mechanical malfunction in the BMW. Police say alcohol or drugs were not involved in this incident.

I'm relieved that this auto accident did not result in catastrophic or fatal injuries. Based on the newspaper account about the intensity of the crash, this could have been a lot worse. I wish the injured victims the very best for a quick and complete recovery.

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San Bernardino County Big Rig Accident Caused by Distracted Truck Driver

Two people suffered injuries in an Ontario big rig accident that involved several vehicles on the eastbound I-10 freeway near Euclid Avenue the afternoon of March 28, 2009, according to a news report in the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin. California Highway Patrol officials said they responded to the multi-vehicle collision where a big rig was on fire right next to an overturned AAA truck and a sport utility vehicle. The big rig driver managed to get out of his box truck that was ablaze, but suffered neck and back injuries. The drivers of the other two vehicles also suffered moderate injuries and were taken to a local hospital.

An eyewitness who saw the crash occur told officials that she was driving behind the box truck and saw the driver talking on the cell phone as he was driving. He seemed distracted, so she changed lanes and went around the big rig to get away to safety. After she pulled ahead of the big rig and glanced at her rear-view mirror she saw the truck swerve and hit the other vehicles.

I'm relieved that this big rig accident did not result in serious injuries to any of the other motorists involved. Given the nature of this crash and the fact that the big rig caught fire, this multiple vehicle accident could have had devastating consequences. I wish all the injured victims well and hope they have a speedy and complete recovery.

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San Diego Street Racing Accident Kills Young Mom

Alexandria Drake, a 25-year-old Chula Vista woman, was killed in a Ramona auto accident after a 47-year-old man racing a Jaguar on State Route 67 struck the vehicle she was driving, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports. Drake was driving a Volvo with her 7-week-old son in the back seat. She was following her mother who was driving a Mitsubishi Montero. Melvin Pearless, the Jaguar's driver was apparently speeding at the time and crossed into southbound traffic near Archie Moore Road striking the Montero and then colliding with Drake's Volvo, which went off the road and hit a tree. Drake died shortly after the accident, but her son, Jaydon, was uninjured.

Eyewitnesses told officials that the Jaguar was "speeding and jockeying for position" with a white BMW. It appeared that the vehicles were racing. Officials are still looking for the driver of the BMW, who did not stop.

My heart goes out to the grieving family and friends of Alexandria Drake for their tragic, heartbreaking and untimely loss. I offer my deepest sympathies to everyone who knew and loved Drake. Please keep them all, especially baby Jaydon, in your prayers.

It is unimaginable that someone would consider putting the rush of speed and racing over the lives and safety of the motorists they share the road with. The price in this tragic incident is the life of a young mother, who now leaves behind a 7-week-old infant. I hope Melvin Pearless is held accountable for his reckless, negligent actions and is prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Authorities say he is likely to face vehicular manslaughter charges. Pearless should also be held civilly responsible for the damage, loss and heartache he has caused Drake's family. The other driver who was racing could also be held partially liable for the accident because he was a participant in the illegal street racing.

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Orange County Auto Accident Injures Three

A woman and her two children were injured in a Huntington Beach broadside crash near the street intersection of Newland Street and Yorktown Avenue after her car was broadsided by another vehicle, The Orange County Register reports. Huntington Beach Police said the two-car collision occurred the morning of March 31, 2009 after a dark green Hyundai Tiburon collided with a silver Volkswagen Jetta station wagon. The woman was wearing her seat belt and her 2-year-old child and 4-month-old infant were all strapped securely and the safety features in the Jetta worked properly, police said.

It's always a tremendous relief when auto accident victims escape with minimal injuries. However, broadside crashes can be devastating and have the potential to cause catastrophic injuries or even death. I'm glad that this was not one of those accidents and wish the injured victims the very best for a quick and complete recovery.

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Senior Driver Causes Redondo Beach Auto Accident Injuring Five

Five people suffered injuries at the Ham Supreme restaurant in Redondo Beach in an auto accident after an 88-year-old old driver mistook his accelerator for the brake and drove his Jaguar halfway into the restaurant. The elderly motorist, whose name was not released, apparently struck several sidewalk diners the afternoon of March 29, 2009, the Daily Breeze reports. The restaurant is located near the intersection of Pacific Coast Highway and Carnelian Street.

Redondo Beach police officials say the potential for a serious accident was extremely high as there were a lot of people who were dining and gathered in the area. After striking some of the diners on the sidewalk, the Jaguar struck several diners inside the restaurant, pushing them through a stucco wall into a neighboring business and trapping them. A police officer had to smash the front window of the business to release the injured victims. The elderly driver was not hurt in the crash. Police have said they will file a report with the California Department of Motor Vehicles for his license to be reviewed.

It is indeed a miracle that no one was seriously injured or killed in this Redondo Beach auto accident. I wish those who suffered injuries in this crash the very best for a speedy and complete recovery.

The big issue here is what caused the elderly driver to lose control of his vehicle. Officials have apparently said in no uncertain terms that the accident was the fault of the senior driver. According to the California Department of Motor Vehicles, California now has almost 3 million drivers who are 65 years or older. Over the next few decades, that number will increase. It is already increasing with every passing day.

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Fatal Tulare County Motorcycle Accident

Justin Houston, 21, was killed in a Visalia motorcycle accident the evening of March 21, 2009, the Visalia Times Delta reports. Houston was riding a Suzuki 750 motorcycle south on Mooney Boulevard when a Nissan Titan pickup crossed in front of him heading westbound on Oakdale Avenue or Avenue 256, California Highway Patrol officials said. Maria Vasquez, 34, the driver of the Nissan, told CHP investigators that while she stopped at the intersection, she had not seen Houston. Some witnesses told investigators that Houston was riding at a high rate of speed.

The front of Houston's motorcycle collided with the front passenger side of the pickup truck. Houston was ejected and sustained major injuries although officials said he was wearing a helmet. Vasquez and her two passengers were uninjured.

My heart goes out to the family and friends of young Justin Houston for their heartbreaking loss. I offer my deepest condolences to everybody who knew and loved this young man. Please keep them in your prayers.

According to CHP's 2006 traffic statistics, there was one motorcycle accident fatality and 24 injuries involving motorcycle accidents in Visalia. In Tulare County as a whole, there were 10 deaths and 90 injuries involving motorcycle accident during the year 2006.

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Los Angeles County Fatal Chain-Reaction Freeway Accident

Two people have been killed and at least five people injured in an eight-car crash on the 210 Freeway in Irwindale the morning of March 27, 2009, the Los Angeles Times reports. The fatal Los Angeles auto accident involved a Foothill Transit bus that collided with a car, causing a chain reaction crash. Out of the five hurt, one person has suffered critical injuries, Los Angeles County fire officials said. Two trucks were involved in the auto accident that spilled debris onto the freeway. There were no passengers on the transit bus.

My heart goes out to the family and friends of the two people who were killed in this horrific chain-reaction accident. I offer my deepest sympathies to them. I also wish the five injured victims the very best for a speedy and complete recovery.

According to the California Highway Patrol's 2006 Statewide Integrated Traffic Reporting System (http://www.chp.ca.gov/switrs/pdf/2007-sec8.pdf), there was one fatal auto accident and 232 auto accidents involving injuries in Irwindale. In Los Angles County, statistics show that there were 712 fatalities and 56,475 injuries relating to traffic accidents in the year 2006.

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Los Angeles County Auto Accident Injures One

One person was seriously injured in a Bellflower auto accident, which officials suspect may have involved street-racing. According to an article in the Long Beach Press-Telegram, the Long Angeles County car crash occurred the evening of March 24, 2009 when a Chevy Suburban headed north on Bellflower Boulevard ran a red light at Artesia Boulevard and crashed into a Geo Prizm making a left on a green arrow from southbound Bellflower Boulevard.

Los Angeles County Sheriff's officials are still investigating whether or not this accident was a result of street racing, based on eyewitness accounts. The driver of the Geo Prizm was taken to an area hospital with serious injuries. The driver of the Suburban, who has not yet been identified, was arrested.

My heart goes out to the innocent motorist who suffered serious injuries in this crash. I'm relieved though, that this man was not catastrophically injured in this horrific crash that seems to have been caused by a negligent driver. I wish the injured victim the very best for a quick and complete recovery.

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Fatal Orange County Cycle Versus Auto Accident

A man killed in an Westminster auto accident when he was struck by a pickup truck while riding his tricycle has been identified as 72-year-old Dieu Vu of Westminster, The Orange County Register reports. The fatal auto accident occurred the morning of March 23, 2009 when Vu was pedaling his cycle across the intersection of Beach Boulevard and Edinger Avenue. A full-sized pickup with oversized wheels and a high suspension turned right on a green light into the cyclist, Vu, according to Westminster police officials. The driver of the pickup was identified as 31-year-old Michael Sindar of Westminster.

I offer my deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Dieu Vu for their extremely tragic loss. Please keep them in your prayers.

According to California Highway Patrol's 2006 traffic accident statistics, there was one bicycle accident fatality and 31 injuries that occurred as a result of bicycle accidents in Westminster. In Orange County as a whole, 16 deaths and 1,020 injuries were reported as a result of bicycle accidents during 2006.

In this particular case, there is little information available about how or why the fatal tricycle accident occurred. Based on the newspaper report, it seems that Dieu Vu was crossing at an intersection. Sindar was turning right on a green, but if he had seen Vu crossing the street, he should have stopped his pickup truck and yielded right-of-way to Vu. The fact that Sindar did not stop and kept going tells me that he did not see Vu on the tricycle attempting to cross the major street intersection. Going by some of the comments made to this news account, this is not the first fatality to happen here at what appears to be a very busy and dangerous intersection with blind spots

Continue reading " Orange County Tricycle Accident " »

Ventura County Motorcycle Accident Injures One

A person was reportedly injured in a Ventura County motorcycle accident on Pacific Coast Highway. According to an article in the Ventura County Star, the motorcycle accident occurred the evening of March 21, 2009 when the motorcycle collided with a blue Ford pickup truck towing a trailer, California Highway Patrol officials said. The motorcycle versus pickup collision happened near Yerba Buena Road in eastern Ventura County. Apparently, the motorcyclist did not suffer life-threatening injuries.

I'm relieved that this motorcycle accident did not result in a fatality. I wish the injured motorcyclist the very best for a speedy and complete recovery.

According to the California Highway Patrol's 2006 Statewide Integrated Traffic Reporting System, there were four fatalities and 100 injuries reported as a result of motorcycle accidents in unincorporated areas of Ventura County. In Ventura County as a whole, five deaths and 210 injuries were reported as a result of motorcycle accident in 2006.

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Los Angeles County Auto Accident Kills Man

Juan Manuel Torres, 61, of Pomona died in a Los Angeles auto accident on March 21, 2009 after he lost control of his vehicle and crashed into a tree, the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin reports. Pomona police officials and Los Angeles County fire paramedics responded to the incident at Holt Avenue and Illinois Street after they received reports of a vehicle collision. Torres had crashed his 1984 Toyota pickup truck into a tree. He was found unconscious and had suffered head injuries in the auto accident.

According to preliminary investigations, Torres was westbound on Holt Avenue when his truck veered off the road and hit the tree. Officials are still looking into what caused Torres to lose control of his truck. Torres was taken to an area hospital where he died. Pomona Police traffic investigators are asking anyone who saw this crash to call 909-620-2081.

My heart goes out to the family and friends of Juan Manuel Torres. I offer my deepest sympathies to everyone who knew and loved Torres. Please keep them in your prayers.

According to California Highway Patrol's 2006 Statewide Integrated Traffic Reporting System, there were 11 fatalities and 894 injuries reported in Pomona as a result of auto accidents. In Los Angeles County as a whole, 712 deaths and 56,475 injuries were reported in 2006 that were related to traffic accidents.

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Car Crash In Orange County Injures Four

Four people were injured in a Laguna Beach auto accident after a suspected drunk driver crashed his BMW into three other vehicles. Evan Anwyl, 21, of Escondido, was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence, according to a news report in The Orange County Register. This Orange County injury auto accident occurred the afternoon of March 22, 2009 after Anwyl hit one moving vehicle before he slammed into two parked cars on Camel Point Drive near Pacific Coast Highway.

Four people in the three vehicles suffered moderate injuries and were taken to a local hospital. Anwyl, the suspected drunk driver was not injured. Anwyl faces felony DUI charges, Laguna Beach police officials said.

I'm glad that everyone got out of this crash without catastrophic injuries, especially the victims hit by Evan Anwyl. I wish all four injured victims the very best for a speedy and complete recovery.

According to California Highway Patrol's 2006 traffic accident statistics, there were 15 alcohol-related injury accidents in Laguna Beach. In Orange County as a whole, in 2006, 75 deaths and 1,501 injuries were reported as a result of alcohol-related auto accidents.

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Serra Mesa Woman Suffers Injuries In Auto Accident

A woman driver suffered major injuries in a Serra Mesa auto accident on the Interstate 805 after her car veered off the freeway and struck a guardrail. According to a CBS news report, part of the guardrail smashed through the passenger compartment. The car crash occurred near Mesa College Driver shortly after 1 p.m. on March 19, 2009, California Highway Patrol officials said. Emergency crews helped extricate the woman from the damaged sedan and she was taken to an area hospital with major injuries. No other vehicles were apparently involved in this auto accident.

My heart goes out to the woman who was seriously injured in this San Diego County auto accident. I wish her the very best for a quick and complete recovery.

According to CHP's 2006 traffic accident statistics, there were 84 fatal auto accidents and 6,516 injury auto accidents reported in the city of San Diego. In San Diego County, 268 deaths and 14,641 injuries were reported as a result of San Diego auto accidents during that same period.

In this case, there are many unanswered questions. First of all, there is no information about how the woman lost control of her car. Secondly, there is also the question of whether the guardrail was in a state of disrepair or not properly maintained. If I were a member of the victim's family, I would want to know whether there was a mechanical malfunction or a product defect that caused her to lose control of her vehicle.

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Los Angeles County Big Rig Accident Injures Two

A big rig driver lost control of his vehicle on the 60 Freeway, swerved into other lanes of traffic and ended up colliding with another big rig, the San Gabriel Valley Tribune reports. The driver was traveling east on the 60 Freeway near the Azusa Avenue off-ramp in the City of Industry on March 17, 2009 when the truck accident occurred. The driver who initially lost control was ejected from his vehicle. He apparently suffered severe head injuries and was transported to an area hospital. The driver of the second truck sustained injuries to his forearm.

I'm glad that there were no catastrophic or fatal injuries in this Los Angeles County big rig crash. I wish the injured victims the very best for a speedy and complete recovery.

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s semi truck accident statistics, there were 361 fatal accidents involving large trucks in California in 2007 and 10,635 injury accident involving big rigs during that same time. California tops the list of states with the highest number of fatal and major big rig injury accidents. Large truck accidents can be catastrophic simply because of the size and weight of the vehicle. They can cause a lot of damage to other vehicles and their occupants, and even the roadway.

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Orange County Man Fatally Injured in Auto Accident

Christopher Smith, 45, of Huntington Beach was killed in a Thousand Oaks traffic accident the night of March 17, 2009, the Ventura County Star reports. Smith was driving south on the Highway 23 transition to Highway 101 north when he missed a curve and drove straight into a field that separates the connector from the highway. His vehicle traveled about 750 feet through the grass and dirt and flew off a 20 foot ledge and dropped on to the freeway into the path of a truck driven by 52-year-old Dwight Fujii of Newbury Park.

Fujii's pickup truck spun out of control, overturned and came to rest on its wheels. Smith was taken to an area hospital where he was pronounced dead. Fujii was taken to hospital with a sprained ankle and other minor injuries, California Highway Patrol officials said. This is apparently the second fatal car crash on Highway 101 in Thousand Oaks in less than a week. Earlier, an Oxnard woman was killed when the car she was a passenger in crashed into a tree and overturned south of Westlake Boulevard, barely two miles from the site of this more recent collision.

My heart goes out to the family and friends of Christopher Smith. I offer my deepest condolences to them for their tragic loss. I also sympathize with Dwight Fujii, who was unfortunately in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Continue reading " Orange County Auto Accident " »

Fatal Riverside County Bicycle Accident

Michael A. Cole, 49 was killed in an Indio bicycle accident after he was hit by a suspected drunk driver, The Desert Sun reports. Arturo R. Hernandez, 64, was driving his pickup truck on Highway 111 near Madison Street the night of March 17, 2009 when he struck Cole, who was riding his bicycle. Hernandez was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence and released so a complaint could be filed. Indio police officials say that Hernandez had been arrested on March 8, 2009 on suspicion of misdemeanor DUI and released from the jail the next day on $2,500 bail. Hernandez is facing a vehicular manslaughter charge as well.

My heart goes out to the family of Michael Cole for their tragic loss. I offer my deepest sympathies to everyone who knew and loved Cole. Please keep them in your prayers. It is heartbreaking that Cole died because this person decided to drink and drive.

According to California Highway Patrol's 2006 traffic accident statistics, there were no bicycle accident fatalities reported in Indio. There were, however, 14 injuries related to bicycle accidents that were reported. In Riverside County as whole, 15 deaths and 359 injuries were attributed to bicycle accidents in 2006. Also for the same year in Riverside County, 136 traffic accident fatalities occurred that were alcohol-related.

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Man Injured In Riverside County Motorcycle Accident

A man was seriously injured in a motorcycle accident in Moreno Valley the afternoon of March 16, 2009, according to a news report in The Riverside Press Enterprise. The motorcycle crash occurred after a car that lost control and drifted out of a lane sideswiped the motorcyclist. The rider was thrown from his bike and the motorcycle was trapped under the car. Moreno Valley police say the car's driver became momentarily distracted while heading south on Graham Street causing her to drift to the left, sideswiping several southbound vehicle waiting to make a left-hand turn. The impact of the collision broke the motorcyclist's leg.

I'm relieved that this motorcyclist did not suffer any catastrophic or fatal injuries as a result of this motorcycle versus auto accident. It is extremely unfortunate that he had to suffer for the actions of a negligent driver. I wish him the very best for a speedy and complete recovery.

According to California Highway Patrol's 2006 Statewide Integrated Traffic Reporting System, there were no fatalities, but 10 injuries reported in connection with motorcycle accidents in Moreno Valley. In Riverside County as a whole, 29 fatalities and 487 injuries were reported as a result of motorcycle accidents during that same period.

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Oxnard DUI Auto Accident Kills Woman

Elisa Laura Failauga, 22, of Oxnard was killed in a Thousand Oaks SUV rollover crash the morning of March 12, 2009, the Ventura County Star reports. The rollover accident occurred on the northbound Highway 101 just south of Westlake Boulevard when 20-year-old Desirie Osuna lost control of her sport utility vehicle. The SUV went onto the right shoulder, broadsided a tree, overturned and came to rest on its roof, California Highway Patrol officials said. Failauga, a passenger in the SUV, was trapped in the vehicle's right front seat. She had to be extricated from the SUV and was pronounced dead at the scene. Osuna was taken to the hospital with injuries. She was later arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence.

My heart goes out to the family and friends of Elisa Laura Failauga for their tragic and untimely loss. I offer my deepest sympathies to everyone who knew and loved Failauga. Please keep them in your prayers. Here was a young woman who died because another woman, who probably was her friend, decided to drink and drive. Tragic!

According to California Highway Patrol's 2006 traffic accident statistics, out of six auto accident fatalities in Thousand Oaks, three were alcohol-related. In Ventura County as a whole, there were 75 total auto accident deaths in 2006 out of which 31 were alcohol-related.

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Fatal San Francisquito Auto Accident

Stephanie Lynn Baker, a 35-year-old Chatsworth woman, was killed in a Los Angeles County car crash on San Francisquito Canyon Road in the Santa Clarita Valley the morning of March 14, 2009. According to an article in The Signal, Baker's car, a 2003 Kia, was heading southbound on San Francisquito Canyon when her car drifted into the northbound lane. A Saugus man, driving a 1999 Dodge about 40 mph, veered onto the right shoulder, but wasn't able to avoid a head-on collision with Baker's Kia. Baker died after she was airlifted to the hospital. The driver of the Dodge suffered minor injuries.

My heart goes out to the family and friends of Stephanie Lynn Baker, who was fatally injured in this auto accident. I offer my deepest sympathies to everyone who knew and loved this woman. Please keep them in your prayers. I'm also relieved that the driver of the Dodge was not seriously injured in this crash. I wish him the very best for a quick and complete recovery.

According to California Highway Patrol's 2006 traffic accident statistics, there were five fatalities and 604 injuries related to auto accidents in Santa Clarita. In Los Angeles County as a whole, there were 748 fatalities and 57,069 injuries reported as a result of traffic accidents.

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San Diego Motorcycle Crash Kills Man

Michael Anthony Freitas, 66, of Riverside was killed in a San Diego motorcycle accident the afternoon of March 12, 2009, according to a Channel 6 news report. The fatal motorcycle versus auto collision occurred on Route 163 when Freitas was riding south on the highway near Kearny Villa Road. He was struck by a pickup truck whose driver swerved to avoid hitting a truck that had made a sudden lane change. Freitas was thrown off his motorcycle into a northbound lane where he was struck by another vehicle. He was taken to a local hospital where he died of his injuries.

California Highway Patrol officials say this fatal motorcycle accident in San Diego occurred because the driver of the pickup truck swerved to avoid another vehicle in front that had made a sudden lane change. The pickup also struck another sport utility vehicle that rolled over and came to rest on its roof. It is not clear whether anyone in the SUV was injured.

I offer my deepest condolences to the family and friends of Michael Anthony Freitas for their sudden and tragic loss. Please keep them in your prayers.

According to California Highway Patrol's 2006 Statewide Integrated Traffic Reporting System, there were 12 deaths and 332 injuries reported as a result of motorcycle accidents in San Diego. In San Diego County as a whole, 39 fatalities and 1,038 injuries reportedly occurred as a result of motorcycle accidents during that same period.

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Man Seriously Injured In Orange County Auto Accident

A 69-year-old man suffered serious injuries in an Anaheim auto accident the morning of March 12, 2009, The Orange County Register reports. Anaheim police officials say that a BMW 530i driven by the 69-year-old man was traveling east on Water Street and stopped at a stop sign at Anaheim Boulevard. Drivers on Anaheim do not have a stop sign. The driver of the BMW then continued to cross Anaheim east on Water when he was struck by a white Mazda Navajo traveling south on Anaheim. The driver of the BMW was taken to an area hospital. He is said to have suffered major head injuries. The 40-year-old driver of the Mazda complained of pain but was not hospitalized.

I hope the elderly driver of the BMW who has been hospitalized with major injuries has a quick and complete recovery. Going by this news report, it is indeed fortunate that lives were not lost in this Anaheim auto collision.

According to California Highway Patrol's 2006 Statewide Integrated Traffic Reporting System, there were 38 deaths and 2,210 injuries as a result of motor vehicle accidents in Anaheim. In Orange County as a whole, 199 fatalities and 14,981 injuries were attributed to auto accidents during 2006.

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Elderly Driver Causes Auto Accident

One person suffered injuries in this Woodland Hills auto accident after an 80-year-old motorist tore through the first floor of a three-story office building a little after noon on March 11, 2009. According to this news report in the Los Angeles Daily News, the elderly man mistakenly hit the gas instead of the brake. The man apparently drove his Buick into the office of Table Bay Financial Inc. at 21820 Burbank Blvd. just missing a receptionist who was knocked over when the sedan struck her desk. She was taken a local hospital for treatment.

The driver of the Buick and his elderly female passenger were uninjured. The Buick sedan apparently continued to barrel out of control through the offices of the firm's CEO and CFO, who were thankfully not in the offices that day. None of the other 10 employees in the office at the time were injured. Los Angeles Police Department traffic investigators are evaluating the elderly driver's ability to drive in light of the crash. Officials are still determining how the driver got from the street into the office building. He apparently missed striking a fire hydrant but ran over landscaping.

It's indeed a miracle that no one was seriously injured or killed in this horrific car accident. I wish the injured victim the very best for a speedy and complete recovery.

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Rosario Silvestre, 41, died in a hit-and-run auto accident caused by a suspected drunk driver on the 101 Freeway in Goleta the night of March 7, 2009, according to the KSBY 6 Action News report. The fatal auto accident apparently occurred on the Highway 101 near Fairview Avenue when a car driven by Fabian Maduena of Hollister rear-ended another car in which Silvestre was a passenger. The vehicle flipped over several times. Silvestre was ejected from the car and died shortly afterward in an area hospital. Maduena was later arrested on suspicion of felony DUI, hit and run, and vehicular manslaughter

My heart goes out to the family and friends of Rosario Silvestre, who was killed because of another person's negligence. I offer my deepest sympathies to everyone who knew and loved Silvestre. Please keep them in your prayers.

I sincerely hope that Maduena, who caused this accident and reportedly fled the scene of the crash, is brought to justice. He should be held both civilly and criminally responsible for this auto accident and the death of Rosario Silvestre. Operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol and leaving the scene of an accident are two serious violations of California law.

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Charles "Mask" Lewis, 38, a Huntington Beach resident and founder of the famous TapouT clothing company, was killed in an apparent hit-and-run auto accident in Newport Beach early morning on March 11, 2009. According to this news report in the Daily Pilot, police observed Lewis' 2004 red Ferrari and a 1977 Porsche 911 Targa out of control on southbound Jamboree Road between Eastbluff Drive North and Bison Avenue. The Ferrari apparently jumped the curb and slammed into a light pole, splitting in half and killing Charles Lewis, the driver.

Jeffrey Kirby, 51, the driver of the Porsche, did not stop at the scene of the accident and was arrested blocks away from the fatal car crash scene on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter, driving under the influence and felony hit-and-run. Also arrested was Kirby's passenger, 32-year-old Lynn Nabozny. Police say Lewis' car collided with Kirby's Porsche before losing control. Kirby apparently has a prior DUI conviction from 2002. A woman was ejected from the Ferrari during the crash, but she did not suffer life-threatening injuries.

My heart goes out to the family, friends and co-workers of Charles Lewis for their tragic loss. I offer my deepest condolences to everybody who knew and loved this man. Please keep them in your prayers during their difficult time.

Continue reading " Newport Beach Auto Accident Kills TapouT Founder " »

Aram Gorgees, a 7-year-old boy, was killed in an El Cajon auto accident the night of March 9, 2009, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports. The fatal accident occurred near Jamacha Road north of Washington Avenue when the driver of the vehicle carrying Aram had pulled out of a strip mall driveway. The boy was in the rear passenger seat when the car was broadsided by an oncoming sport utility vehicle. Aram was taken to an area hospital where he was pronounced dead. Two others who were involved in this broadside collision were also injured and transported to the hospital.

I offer my deepest condolences to the family of little Aram Gorgees for their heartbreaking loss. I hope the two others who were injured in this auto crash did not suffer serious injuries. I wish the injured victims the very best for a quick and complete recovery.

According to California Highway Patrol's Statewide Integrated Traffic Reporting System, there were six traffic accident fatalities and 641 injury crashes in El Cajon. In San Diego County as a whole, 273 deaths and 14,920 injuries were reported in 2006 as a result of auto accidents.

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A seven-vehicle auto accident in San Luis Obispo on State Route 166 caused by a driver who made an unsafe pass, left one person dead and several others injured, according to this KSBY news report. The multi-vehicle crash occurred the evening of March 6, 2009 near Tepesquet Road when a pickup truck and two semi trucks collided, causing the big rigs to burst into flames. California Highway Patrol officials said the driver of the pickup crossed a double yellow line and tried to pass two semi trucks, but slammed head on into another semi truck traveling in the opposite direction. The driver of that semi truck died in the accident after his rig's gas tank ruptured and caught fire.

CHP traffic investigators say the pickup hit a total of six vehicles – three semis and three cars. Miraculously, five of the seven drivers escaped with minor injuries. The driver of the pickup truck, who caused this fatal auto accident, was hospitalized with injuries. Caltrans and CHP officials say they recently spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on safety improvements on Highway 166 to prevent these types of accidents, but they say it won't work if drivers continue to break basic traffic rules. This pickup driver crossed double yellow lines on a curve.

My heart goes out to all the injured victims, and especially to the family and friends of the truck driver who was killed in this accident. I offer my deepest condolences to everybody who knew and loved this man. I also wish all the injured victims the very best for a quick and complete recovery – both physically and emotionally.

Continue reading " Pickup versus Big Rig Accident On Highway 166 Leaves One Dead " »

Isaac Zaldivar, a 21-year-old Los Angeles County Sheriff's deputy, was killed in a Southern California motorcycle accident on March 7, 2009 after his motorcycle collided with a car at the intersection of Rosemead Boulevard and Terradell Street in Pico Rivera, the Whittier Daily News reports. Zaldivar was riding his motorcycle north on Rosemead when it hit a Toyota Camry headed westbound on Terradell and driven by a 75-year-old woman. Zaldivar was taken to an area hospital where he died from injuries sustained in the motorcycle versus car accident. Zaldivar's 17-year-old brother, who was riding with him at the time of the crash, escaped with minor injuries. The elderly woman behind the wheel of the Camry was uninjured.

My heart goes out to the family, friends and co-workers of Isaac Zaldivar. I offer my deepest sympathies to them. Please keep them in your prayers.

Apparently that stretch of Rosemead Boulevard where this tragic accident occurred was a dangerous roadway where visibility has always been a problem. Pico Rivera City Councilman Ron Beilke says that accidents occur way too often along that stretch of Rosemead Boulevard and over the last four years, the City Council has frequently "addressed the issue of visibility on that street." He says the city now has more of a reason to address this dangerous roadway now that a police officer has lost his life at the dangerous intersection.

Continue reading " Pico Rivera Motorcycle Accident Kills Los Angles County Sheriff's Deputy " »

Four people were taken to the hospital with injuries after two Los Angeles auto accidents on the Interstate 5 occurred the morning of March 7, 2009 in Castaic involving a suspected drunk driver, The Signal newspaper reports. Two traffic accidents occurred on the freeway, but California Highway Patrol officials say one was caused by the other. The chain of events started when a sedan and a tractor trailer collided on the southbound 5 Freeway near Templin Highway. About two minutes later the first accident led to a second collision involving a pickup truck, an SUV, another sedan and the tractor trailer already at the site.

CHP officials arrested the male driver of the sedan in the first collision on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol. That man was injured in the second collision because he stepped out of the vehicle after the first collision. He, along with the driver of the sedan involved in the second crash and two passengers in that vehicle, were taken to the hospital with injuries. Authorities are still investigating this accident.

I'm glad that no one suffered catastrophic or fatal injuries in this auto accident. I wish the injured victims the very best for a quick and complete recovery. Please keep them in your prayers.

Continue reading " Castaic Freeway Auto Accidents Injure Four " »

Five people, including four adults and a 13-year-old girl, were hospitalized with injuries on March 5, 2009 in a Los Angeles County auto versus pedestrian accident, the Long Beach Press-Telegram reports. The accident occurred when a Honda Accord LX struck a cement bus bench at the corner of Bellflower Boulevard and Centralia Street and then crashed into a tree. The impact of the collision projected the bench almost 20 feet.

The teenage girl and a 79-year-old man seated on the bench sustained minor to moderate injuries. Inside the vehicle, the 79-year-old male driver and a 50-year-old female passenger sustained minor injuries and a 78-year-old female passenger sustained moderate injuries. All the injured people were taken to local hospitals. Los Angeles County Sheriff's Lakewood Station traffic investigators are looking into what caused this collision.

I'm relieved that this horrific Lakewood car accident did not cause catastrophic or fatal injuries. This accident could have easily been a lot worse. I wish the injured victims the very best for a speedy and complete recovery.

Continue reading " Five Injured In Lakewood Auto Accident " »

Avishek Dube, 25, of Irvine died in an Orange County auto accident after he was struck on the 405 Freeway. According to this news report in The Orange County Register, Dube's 1997 Infiniti was disabled in the fast lane because of a prior accident in the early hours of March 7, 2009. Another car that was being driven by Donovan A. Lozada of Fountain Valley and doing about 70 miles per hour then hit the Infiniti, killing Dube. California Highway Patrol officials say Lozada suffered moderate injuries in the crash. The fatal collision occurred on the 405 Freeway just north of Jamboree Road in Irvine.

My heart goes out to everyone who knew and loved Avishek Dube. I offer Dube's family and friends my deepest sympathies for their untimely loss. Please keep them in your prayers.

The news account of this case leaves many unanswered questions at this point and I trust the CHP investigation will provide more detail in the coming weeks. Was Donovan Lozada driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs? Did the road conditions or a lack of lighting on the freeway make it difficult for other drivers to see Dube’s disabled vehicle? Obviously, Lozada did not have sufficient time to stop his car before crashing into Dube's Infiniti. Was he traveling at a safe speed? Had he been driving a little slower, could he have stopped his vehicle in time to avoid this tragic crash?

Continue reading " Irvine Man Killed in Orange County Freeway Auto Accident " »

A toddler was struck and injured by a motorist in a Los Angeles County pedestrian accident the afternoon of February 27, 2008 as he was crossing the street near a school. According to the Glendale News Press, the pedestrian accident occurred on West Doran Street near Columbus Avenue, which many local residents say has been dangerous for pedestrians, especially children, who cross the street to get to and from school. The 4-year-old who was struck suffered a broken leg. He was hit after he ran to get to the other side of the street where his family was standing.

Local residents say the fact that Doran does not have a crosswalk in the middle of the street for school children is problematic because cars speed on that street. The street also lacks crossing guards and speed signs although there is a freeway entrance close by. One longtime resident in the area says he saw two accidents last year on that street that was caused by speeding vehicles.

I’m extremely relieved that this child did not suffer catastrophic injuries in this Glendale auto versus pedestrian accident. I wish him the very best for a quick and complete recovery.

Continue reading " Glendale Auto versus Pedestrian Accident Injures 4-year-old " »

Two people were injured in a Redlands car accident the morning of March 4, 2009, The Riverside Press-Enterprise reports. The two-car collision apparently sent both drivers to the hospital with injuries. The accident occurred when a 20-year-old Highland man lost control of his Ford Escort while negotiating a curve on San Timoteo Canyon Road, Redlands police officials said.

The driver of the Escort took the corner too fast and the brakes of his Escort locked causing him to slide into the opposing lane of traffic and hit a Kia Sorrento driven by a 23-year-old Grand Terrace woman. The man suffered a broken arm and the woman was taken to the hospital with minor injuries. She was also getting a precautionary check up at the hospital because she was pregnant.

I'm relieved that this two-car collision did not result in catastrophic or fatal injuries for either driver. I wish them both the very best for a quick and complete recovery.

According to California Highway Patrol's 2006 statistics, there were five fatalities and 624 deaths involving auto accidents in Redlands. In San Bernardino County as a whole, 351 traffic accident deaths and 10,842 injuries were reported for the year 2006.

Continue reading " Redlands Auto Accident Injures Two " »

Two teenagers were struck and injured in a hit-and-run auto accident as they were walking down a street in Adelanto in San Bernardino County. According to this news report in the San Bernardino Sun, a 16-year-old boy and an 18-year-old woman were walking on Bellflower Street the evening of March 1, 2009 when a vehicle struck them both and continued driving north on Bellflower.

Several neighbors said they heard the crash, but no one reported seeing the hit-and-run vehicle. Someone called 911 saying he found a boy and a woman lying on the road with injuries. San Bernardino Sheriff's deputies believe that the hit-and-run vehicle must have had a shattered windshield and other front-end damage based on the debris left at the scene. Both the injured victims were taken by helicopter to an area hospital. If you saw this Adelanto San Bernardino hit-and-run auto accident or have any information about it, please call the San Bernardino Sheriff's Adelanto station at 760-246-1000.

My heart goes out to the two young people who were apparently seriously injured in this hit-and-run collision. I wish them the very best for a speedy and complete recovery. I hope and pray that their injuries are not catastrophic.

Continue reading " San Bernardino County Hit-and-Run Auto Accident Injures Two " »

Beatriz Adriana Loaiza, 37, died in a Long Beach auto accident after she was struck and killed by a car backing out of a driveway, The Press Telegram reports. Loaiza, a South Gate resident, was apparently kneeling down next to a parked vehicle checking the tires the night of March 3, 2009 in the 100 block of East Del Amo Boulevard when she was struck by a 2003 GMC Envoy that was backing up from a driveway at that location. Loaiza died at an area hospital from major head injuries.

The driver of the GMC has not been cited or arrested pending an investigation. If you have any information about this fatal auto accident, please call Long Beach Police Accident Investigations detectives David Lauro or Sirilo Garcia at 562-570-7355.

My heart goes out to the family of Beatriz Adriana Loaiza, who died tragically in this unfortunate accident. I offer my deepest sympathies to everyone who knew and loved Loaiza. Please keep them in your prayers.

Backup collisions occur when a driver reverses his or her vehicle and strikes an object or a person behind the car. Although all vehicles come equipped with rear-view mirrors, drivers can sometimes miss a person, especially a child, when they are backing up. A lot of times, this happens because drivers are not paying attention or are not aware of their surroundings. Backup collisions most affect children under 15 years of age. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, between 2001 and 2003, about 7,475 children under the age of 15 were treated for automobile back-over incidents.

Continue reading " Woman Killed in Long Beach Auto Accident " »

A Los Angeles County deputy sheriff has pleaded no contest to two misdemeanor drunk driving charges for injuring two people in a Stanton auto accident The Orange County Register reports in this article. Robert Andrew Moran, 42, of Buena Park will be sentenced later this year for driving under the influence causing injury and driving with a blood alcohol level of 0.08 percent or more.

Moran apparently crashed while driving a sport utility vehicle issued by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. On June 29, 2008 he was driving southbound on Beach Boulevard at Garden Grove Boulevard in Stanton when he crashed his Chevrolet SUV into the driver’s side door of a Mazda sedan. The driver and passenger of the Mazda sustained moderate injuries. Tests showed that Moran had a blood alcohol level above the legal limit of 0.08 percent.

Continue reading " Police Officer Pleads No Contest to DUI Charges in Orange County Auto Accident " »

Mark Flores, 20, was killed in a Baldwin Park motorcycle accident on February 25, 2009 after his motorcycle spun out of control and hit two cars. According to a news report in the San Gabriel Valley Tribune, Flores lost control of his motorcycle and crashed in the 4000 block of Harlan Avenue.

My heart goes out to everybody who knew and loved Mark Flores. The newspaper report states that the crash site has become a memorial for the motorcyclist and that friends and family have held candlelight vigils and prayer services at the site over the last one week. I offer my deepest sympathies to Mark Flores’ family and friends. Please keep them in your prayers.

According to California Highway Patrol’s 2006 Statewide Integrated Traffic Reporting System, there was one fatal motorcycle accident and 21 injuries relating to motorcycle accidents in Baldwin Park. In Los Angeles County as a whole, 78 deaths and 2,168 injuries were attributed to motorcycle accidents during that period.

Continue reading " Los Angeles County Fatal Motorcycle Accident " »

Six people were injured in a Los Angeles bus accident the afternoon of March 1, 2009 after a vehicle and a DASH bus operated by the Los Angeles Department of Transportation collided in the Westlake area, CBS News reports. The bus versus car crash occurred in the 1900 block of West Wilshire Boulevard. Thankfully, no one suffered serious injuries. The six bus passengers who complained of apparently minor injuries were treated and released. There is no word on whether the driver or passengers in the car were injured.

I’m relieved that no one was seriously hurt in this Los Angeles auto accident. I wish the injured bus passengers the very best for a quick and complete recovery.

The most recent fatal Los Angeles bus accident involving a DASH bus occurred Jan. 8 when 58-year-old Gwendolyn Cole of Burbank was struck and killed by one of these buses when she was walking across a street in a marked crosswalk at the intersection of 5th and Flower streets.

Continue reading " Los Angeles Public Transit Bus Accident Injures Six " »

Four people were injured in a San Diego pedestrian accident after a suspected drunk driver veered into the sidewalk to avoid hitting a car that was making a turn. According to this news report, the auto versus pedestrian accident occurred the night of February 28, 2009 at Coronado and Thermal avenues when a 20-year-old woman heading west on Coronado tried to avoid hitting a car making a left on Thermal Avenue.

She instead ran into three adults and one child standing at the corner of the intersection. One of the women apparently suffered severe leg injuries while the others sustained minor injuries, San Diego police officials said. Police arrested the 20-year-old driver who is expected to face criminal driving under the influence (DUI) charges.

I’m relieved that the victims in this incident were not catastrophically or fatally injured. I wish the injured the very best for a speedy and complete recovery.

There is no question that the drunk driver in this case should be held criminally and civilly responsible for her negligence and callous disregard for human life. Driving under the influence – specifically driving with a blood alcohol level of 0.08 percent or more– is illegal in California. It is also against California law to drive under the influence of drugs – recreational or prescription.

Continue reading " DUI Pedestrian Accident in San Diego Injures Four " »

Daniel Mourning, 46, of Westlake Village was killed in a motorcycle accident on Highway 150 near the Ojai Summit the afternoon of February 28, 2009, the Ventura County Star reports in this article. Mourning was apparently headed east near Happy Valley School Road when his motorcycle drifted onto the dirt shoulder for unknown reasons, California Highway Patrol officials said. Mourning then lost control of the motorcycle and tried to lay the bike down on its left side.

The motorcycle however seemed to have done a “U” back on the highway and into the opposing lane of traffic leading to a head-on collision with another vehicle. Two people in the car, which caught fire from the impact of the crash, suffered minor to moderate injuries and at least one person had to be hospitalized.

I offer my deepest sympathies to the family of Daniel Mourning for their tragic loss. Please keep them in your prayers.

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