Southern California Car Accident Lawyer Blog

Ashleigh Vermillion, 21, of Visalia was killed in a San Luis Obispo County DUI car accident the evening of April 26, 2009 after a suspected drunk driver struck her vehicle on the Highway 41, the Visalia Times-Delta reports. Vermillion was driving a Honda Civic north when a Volkswagen Passat traveling in the opposite direction crossed into the northbound lane and hit the Civic, California Highway Patrol officials said. Masson Blow, 19, of Lompoc lost control of his speeding Passat and crashed into the Civic causing both vehicles to veer off the roadway.

Vermillion suffered fatal personal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. Her passengers -- 1-month-old Jenna Vermillion and 30-year-old David Treen Jr. -- suffered major personal injuries in the car crash. Blow suffered minor injuries. Criminal charges against Blow are pending an investigation.

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

Continue reading " San Luis Obispo DUI Car Accident Kills One " »

Two people -- John Unruh, 58, and a 30-year-old Lake Elsinore woman -- were injured in an April 27, 2009 Corona truck accident after a truck struck the center divider of the 91 Freeway leading to the rear-end car accidents, according to a CBS news report. The car collision occurred when 27-year-old Octavio Rocha was driving his semi tractor-trailer on the eastbound 91 Freeway near Lincoln Avenue. When traffic suddenly slowed, Rocha was unable to stop and steered right to avoid the truck in front of him. Rocha's big rig, which was hauling 54,000 gallons of milk, over-corrected and crashed into the concrete divider and its trailer spun across the eastbound lanes of traffic.

Moments later, the 30-year-old Lake Elsinore woman who was right behind the big rig managed to slow down her Toyota Corolla, but John Unruh could not stop his Honda Accord in time and struck the Corolla. The Corolla was pushed into the tanker and the car collision caused moderate personal injuries to Unruh and the woman. Both were taken to area hospitals.

Data from California Highway Patrol's 2007 Statewide Integrated Traffic Reporting System shows there were 12 car accidents and 743 car accident injuries relating to car accidents in Corona. In Riverside County as a whole, there were 279 deaths and 9,925 injuries reported as a result of car accidents in the year 2007.

Continue reading " Corona Truck Accident Results In Car Collision " »

A 3-year-old girl has died from her injuries after being hit in a Alameda pedestrian accident the night of April 23, 2009, The Daily Review reports. The girl was being pushed in a stroller by her mother at a Cherryland street intersection. California Highway Patrol officials said the girl and her mother, 33-year-old Jasleen Nagi of Hayward, had just entered a crosswalk at Mission Boulevard and Medford Avenue when a 2006 Kia made a right turn from a nearby parking lot. The driver of the Kia, identified as 45-year-old Glenda Williams of San Leandro, said she did not see Nagi and the child in the crosswalk.

Officials said Williams was looking out for another vehicle at the intersection and wasn't paying attention to the mother and daughter in the crosswalk. The child, whose name has not been released, was taken to an area hospital where she died from the fatal pedestrian-car accident. CHP officials said no drugs or alcohol were involved. Officials say that although that intersection is not known to be particularly dangerous to pedestrians, this is the third "weird" fatal pedestrian accident that has occurred in the area this month.

My heart goes out to the family of the little girl, especially the mother, Jasleen Nagi, who saw her young daughter struck and killed. I offer my deepest sympathies to Nagi and everyone who knew and loved this little girl. Please keep them in your prayers.

Continue reading " Alameda County Pedestrian Accident Kills 3-year-old Girl " »

Anaheim police are looking for the driver of a hit-and-run driver who caused a Orange County pedestrian accident when he struck and seriously injured a 55-year-old male bicyclist the evening of April 24, 2009 near the Anaheim Convention Center, The Orange County Register reports. The cyclist, who has not yet been identified, is in critical condition and officials say they are not sure if he will make it. The Anaheim car-bicycle accident occurred when the cyclist was going north in the 1800 block of South West Street when a Chevy El Camino, also headed north, struck the cyclist from behind. The driver kept going.

The cyclist became unconscious after he suffered massive head injuries. Minutes after the bike accident, police found the El Camino abandoned not far away with a shattered front windshield. Police attempted searching the area, but could not find the driver. They are trying to track down the registered owner of the car. If you have any information, please call Anaheim Police at 714-765-1900.

My heart goes out to this injured victim who is fighting for his life. I hope and pray that he will make a quick and complete recovery. I also trust that police will soon apprehend this hit-and-run suspect and bring him or her to justice.

Continue reading " Orange County Hit-and-Run Bicycle Accident Seriously Injures Man " »

A majority of California truck accident fatalities were caused by drivers of passenger vehicles according to a California Highway Patrol report released this week. According to a news report in The Orange County Register, the CHP is taking steps to better educate motorists about driving safely to help avoid large commercial truck accidents. According to the CHP study, out of 7,262 collisions involving big rigs in California in 2008, 56 percent were caused by drivers in passenger vehicles including cars, pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles. In Orange County alone that year, 17 people were killed and 616 people were injured in 452 big rig accidents. The CHP, however, did not provide information about who was at fault in the Orange County truck accidents.

CHP officers say they will conduct sweeps in Orange County to enforce traffic laws involving trucks to help reduce the number of California truck accidents related deaths. Some of the behaviors officers will be looking for include watching vehicles that follow big rigs too closely. This is an extremely dangerous way for smaller vehicles to drive. When the truck ahead makes a sudden stop, the passenger car following closely will not be able to stop increasing the potential for a fatal car rear-end accident.

Continue reading " California Truck Accident Report " »

Robyn Lynn Shaw, 35 and her 9-year-old daughter, Victoria Elizabeth Shaw, were killed in a Pasadena car accident the morning of April 22, 2009, the Pasadena Star News reports. Shaw and her three children were in a silver Toyota Sequoia going east on Orange Grove Boulevard near Martelo Avenue when the sport utility vehicle swerved across the center divider and into oncoming westbound traffic triggering a multiple vehicle car collision. Shaw's 5-year-old daughter and her 16-month-old son were hospitalized with serious personal injuries. Five people from the other vehicles involved in this chain-reaction car accident also suffered personal injuries, two of them are said to be serious.

My heart goes out to the Shaw family for their shocking loss. I offer my deepest sympathies to everyone who knew and loved this beautiful family. I cannot imagine what they must be going through, having to deal with the deaths of two beloved family members while having to care for two other little ones who are fighting for their lives. I hope and pray the two children here as well as the two other adults pull through from their serious personal injuries. Please keep all the victims and their families of this incredibly tragic car accident in your prayers.

Continue reading " Los Angeles County Fatal Car Accident " »

Three people were injured in a Trabuco Canyon car accident on Live Oak Canyon Road, very close to where two teens died in a car crash two weeks ago, The Orange County Register reports. California Highway Patrol officials said the car accident occurred the afternoon of April 20, 2009 when a Long Beach Yellow Cab Co-op minivan heading south on Live Oak clipped the left front end of a northbound box truck.

The minivan then crashed into the left side of the truck another time pushing the truck off the road. The minivan taxi's engine caught fire as the occupants were still trapped inside. Luckily, Christopher Lorenzi, a park ranger, who happened to find the truck versus minivan collision as he was on his way home, helped the victims by putting out the fire and freeing them. The 50-year-old man driving the taxi was taken to Mission Hospital in critical condition as was a female passenger, 18.

My heart goes out to the victims who were seriously injured in this car crash. I hope and pray that they make it through this tough time and recover quickly and completely from their critical personal injuries. Please keep these injured victims in your prayers.

Live Oak Canyon Road in Trabuco Canyon is rapidly becoming notorious for vehicle collisions. Two weeks ago, two teenage boys lost their lives when a 2008 Mustang GT they were in crashed into a tree. Eyewitnesses to this incident reported that the minivan was traveling about 35 to 40 mph, weaving back and forth on the road and that the box truck was going at 35 mph and carrying about 5,000 pounds of metal.

Continue reading " Orange County Car Accident Injures Three " »

Scott Allen Wolverton, 31, died in a San Diego County ATV crash after he lost control of his all-terrain vehicle on a private road, according to a 10news report. Wolverton was driving a 2004 Polaris Ranger off-road vehicle, west on Eagle Gap Road off Mesa Grande Road near State Route 76 when he failed to negotiate a curve, lost control of his ATV and drove over the edge of the road. The ATV rolled over and landed on top of Wolverton, according to the San Diego Medical Examiner's office. The ATV crash occurred the night of April 17, 2009. A passer by, who saw the personal injury accident apparently reported it to authorities.

My heart goes out to the family and friends of Scott Allen Wolverton for their tragic loss. I offer my deepest condolences to everyone who knew and loved Wolverton. Please keep them in your prayers.

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's (CPSC) ATV accident statistics, there were 750 fatalities and 146,600 injuries relating to ATV crashes in the United States in 2006. Those numbers were only 517 and 110,000 in 2001. There has been a dramatic increase in the number of ATV accident deaths and injuries in just five years and that may be largely attributed to the increasing popularity of all-terrain and off-road vehicles, especially in California where we have year-round good weather.

Continue reading " San Diego ATV Rollover Accident Kills Man " »

Jose Valdivia Castellanos, 23, of Rialto was killed in an Anaheim car accident the morning of April 18, 2009, The Orange County Register reports. Castellanos was struck by a truck and killed on the Harbor Boulevard off-ramp of the southbound 5 Freeway as he was trying to change a tire on his disabled vehicle. Castellanos died of his injuries. Authorities have not released the name of the truck driver pending an investigation.

My heart goes out to the family of young Jose Valdivia Castellanos for their tragic and untimely loss. I offer my deepest condolences to everyone who knew and loved Castellanos. Please keep them in your prayers.

According to the California Highway Patrol's 2007 traffic accident statistics, there were 30 fatal traffic accidents and 2,006 traffic accidents involving injuries in Anaheim. During the same year, in all of Orange County, 178 deaths and 14,185 injuries were reported as a result of traffic accidents.

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

The driver of church bus who was killed in a truck accident near Merced has been identified as 40-year-old John Haen of Coarsegold. According to a KTLA News report, Haen was filling his empty bus tank on the side of the highway on April 17, 2009 when he was hit by a big rig. Haen was thrown nearly 70 feet by the impact. The big rig also struck the bus and an empty California Highway Patrol car parked in front of the bus. Apparently, a CHP officer had given Haen a ride to his bus after he walked to Merced for fuel. Haen was driving 41 members of the Sierra Pines Church at Oakhurst back from a three-day mission trip in San Francisco. No one else was injured in the truck crash.

My heart goes out to everybody who knew and loved John Haen. I offer my deepest sympathies to them for his tragic loss. I also feel for the church members who witnessed this horrific truck crash. Please keep them in your prayers.

Based on this news report, it appears as if something went horribly wrong in this truck versus pedestrian crash. Not only did the truck driver not see Haen refueling his bus, but the truck driver also did not see the CHP unit parked near the bus. These details make me wonder if the driver of the big rig was distracted or not paying attention. I trust a CHP investigation will also look into whether the driver of the big rig was under the influence or may have fallen asleep at the wheel.

Continue reading " Highway 99 Big Rig Accident Kills Church Bus Driver " »

Seattle residents are concerned about the traffic dangers presented by the light rail system, which will run from downtown Seattle to Sea-Tac airport when it is completed in a few months. The concern increased after a Sound Transit train collided with a car on April 15, 2009 in a Rainier Valley neighborhood. According to a KOMO News report, the Seattle car crash occurred during rush hour at Martin Luther King Jr. Way and South Dawson Street, sending the car's driver to the hospital with personal injuries.

Sound Transit is testing its routes, launching educational campaigns for drivers and preparing for its grand summer opening. However, neighbors view these train crossings as dangerous. Sound Transit still has not installed special barriers, no-turn signs or crossing arms at these crossings, which is understandably worrisome to many. In fact, there are no crossing arms at the 29 intersections where Sound Transit goes street level through Rainier Valley. Drivers only get bells, whistles and warning lights when a train is approaching. It is also a dangerous situation for pedestrians, especially young children who are crossing the street at street-level light rail crossings. There is nothing that stops people from walking across these crossings.

Continue reading " Seattle Washington Train Accident Lawyers: Seattle Light Rail Accident Raises Safety Concerns " »

A 59-year-old woman who died in a San Marcos car accident the afternoon of April 18, 2009 has been identified as Shelley B. Meyer by the San Diego Medical Examiner's Office. According to a news report in 10news, Meyer was driving her motor scooter east on South Santa Fe Avenue in San Marcos when she passed through the intersection of Mar Vista Drive and was struck by a small sedan. The car's driver was apparently trying to make a left turn into a convenience store when the vehicle struck the side of the scooter, ejecting Meyer. She died shortly after she was taken to the hospital. No arrests have been made pending an investigation. Meyer was wearing a helmet, officials said.

I offer my deepest sympathies to everybody who knew and loved Shelley Meyer. My heart goes out to her friends and family members. Please keep them in your prayers.

According to California Highway Patrol's 2007 traffic accident statistics, there were four traffic accident fatalities and 271 injuries involving traffic accidents in San Marcos. In San Diego County as a whole, 268 deaths and 14,641 injuries were reported as a result of traffic accidents in 2007.

Continue reading " San Diego County Fatal Car Accident " »

Jordan McGuire, 14-year-old boy was killed and his 16-year-old brother, Joshua McGuire, was seriously injured in a Shelton, Washington car crash, according to a KOMO News report. Joshua was driving a BMW north on SR-3 just south of Allyn the morning of April 14, 2009 when he lost control of the car and struck a utility pole, Washington State Patrol officials said. Jordan was pronounced dead at the scene.

Joshua was taken to Mason General Hospital with serious head injuries and a broken neck. He was later airlifted to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. Officials do not believe that drugs or alcohol were involved. The boys were apparently on their way to North Mason high School for a late start. Authorities are asking anyone who saw or has information about this fatal car accident to call 360-405-6613.

My heart goes out to the family of these two boys who are dealing with the nightmare of burying one of their children and attending to the other who is fighting for his life in the hospital. I offer my deepest sympathies to everyone who knew and loved Jordan McGuire for their heartbreaking loss. Please keep this family and young Joshua McGuire in your prayers. I hope and pray that Joshua survives his severe personal injuries and makes a quick and complete recovery.

Continue reading " Seattle Washington Car Accident Lawyers: Shelton Fatal Car Crash Involved Teen Driver " »

Several people were injured in a San Diego car accident in the 10700 block of Tierrasanta Boulevard near La Cuenta Drive the morning of April 15, 2009 after an elderly woman crashed her vehicle through a dentist's office into an area where patients were waiting. According to a news report in 10news, the 86-year-old woman who was driving a sedan, lost control of the vehicle while attempting to park in a disabled spot. San Diego Fire Department officials said the woman drove her Toyota Camry over a curb, crashed through a wooden beam and went through the front of the office and ended up about eight feet inside the lobby.

Firefighters freed a 59-year-old man trapped between the car and a wall. His injuries were serious, but not life threatening. A woman, who was employed in the dentist's office, was also treated for ankle injuries. Officials are investigating the accident. However, the motorist apparently told firefighters that she was "unable to find the brake."

I hope the man who was trapped between the vehicle and the wall is doing better now. I wish him and the other injured victims the very best for a quick and complete recovery. This incident could have been a lot worse and could have resulted in a tragedy. I'm glad and relieved that it did not.

Continue reading " San Diego County Car Crash Involves Elderly Driver " »

For months the city of La Canada-Flintridge sought Caltrans' help to stop runaway truck accidents, but their plea fell on deaf ears, the local newspaper La Canada Valley Sun reports. The community newspaper dug up articles from its archives and found that the problem of runaway trucks on the Angeles Crest Highway is not a new problem. It's always been there and over the last several months, city officials made desperate verbal and written pleas to ban trucks on the highway and post warning signs, but Caltrans basically ignored them.

On April first Angel Posca and his 12-year-old daughter Angelina Posca, were killed after their car was struck by a runaway big rig that lost its brakes and was barreling down the Angeles Crest Highway. The most recent event before the one on April 1 took place the morning of September 5, 2008 when an identical truck crash destroyed seven vehicles and injured a man. The La Canada Valley Sun's editorial staff researched the 62-year-old paper's bound archives and found many similar incidents dating back to 1951! It wasn't until after the April 1, 2009 fatal truck accident that Caltrans issued a temporary order banning trucks on the Angeles Crest Highway.

Our firm has received several calls and is representing one of the injured victims of this accident. We believe that this is a claim against Caltrans and they should be held liable for this horrible tragedy and the losses and damages suffered as a result – especially by the Posca family.

Continue reading " La Canada Big Rig Accident – Caltrans' Liability " »

A man and a woman suffered injuries in a Santa Clarita car crash the morning of April 14, 2009 after their Porsche veered off the side of Little Tujunga Canyon Road in the Angeles National Forest and plunged at least 500 feet down into a canyon. According to a news report in the Los Angeles Daily News, the car accident occurred in the 14000 block of Little Tujunga Canyon. The male driver was airlifted from the site and suffered chest and back injuries. He was taken to the hospital. The woman was also injured.

I'm glad that the man and the woman who were injured in this car crash did not suffer catastrophic or fatal injuries. I wish them both the very best for a quick and complete recovery.

According to California Highway Patrol's 2007 traffic accident statistics, there were five fatal car accidents and 630 injuries involving traffic accidents in Santa Clarita. In Los Angeles County as a whole, 712 deaths and 56,475 injuries were reported as a result of car accidents in 2007.

Continue reading " Los Angeles County Car Accident Injures Two " »

Lewis S. Cane, 47, was severely injured in a Chico motorcycle accident after he was struck by a vehicle turning left at an intersection. According to the Chico Enterprise Record, a Buick sedan being driven north on Marigold Avenue by 72-year-old Marie Walker-Owens turned left in front of Cane's Honda VFR motorcycle the afternoon of April 11, 2009. Cane was thrown onto the hood and windshield of the Buick in the near head-on collision and suffered an open chest wound. Walker-Owens was not hurt.

My heart goes out to Lewis Cane, who has been seriously injured quite possibly because of the elderly driver's inattention. I hope and pray for his speedy and complete recovery.

According to California Highway Patrol's 2007 Statewide Integrated Traffic Reporting System, there were no motorcycle accident fatalities and four injuries involving motorcycle accidents in Chico. In Butte County as a whole, three fatalities and 45 injuries were reported in 2007 as a result of California motorcycle accidents.

Continue reading " Chico Auto versus Motorcycle Collision Seriously Injures Man " »

Joe Garcia, 56, of Fallbrook was killed in a fatal San Diego car crash, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports. Garcia was in a 1993 Nissan Altima heading west on State Route 76 near Interstate 15 the morning of April 7, 2009 when the driver of a Scion XB turned left in front of the Altima at the intersection. The two vehicles collided. Garcia was taken to Palomar Medical Center where he died during surgery.

I offer my deepest sympathies to everyone who knew and loved Joe Garcia. My heart goes out to his family members and friends who are dealing with a terrible loss. Please keep them in your prayers.

According to California Highway Patrol's Statewide Integrated Traffic Reporting System, there were 268 fatalities and 14,641 injuries as a result of San Digeo car accidents reported in San Diego County.

There are few details available with regard to this particular car accident. However, based on the newspaper report, it appears to me that the driver of the Scion was at fault for making a left turn in front of the Altima. The driver of the Scion was likely not paying attention to the traffic or his immediate environment. There is a possibility that the driver of the Scion was distracted or just careless. I trust traffic investigators are also looking into whether the driver of the Scion was intoxicated at the time of the car crash.

Continue reading " San Diego County Fatal Two-Car Crash " »

Timothy Lamb, 48, of Olivehurst, was killed in a Sutter County, California motorcycle accident the morning of April 6, 2009 after his motorbike was struck by a sport utility vehicle, the Appeal-Democrat reports. California Highway Patrol officials say 20-year-old Tiffany Marie Fernandez was driving her Toyota sport utility vehicle east on Highway 20 and tried to turn left onto Acacia Avenue when she ended up colliding head-on with Lamb's westbound 2009 Harley Davidson Road King motorcycle. Lamb was apparently on his way to work at nearby Sweco Products Inc., a heavy equipment manufacturer. He was pinned under the SUV and died from his injuries.

My heart goes out to Timothy Lamb's wife, Jacki, their family members, friends and co-workers, who are clearly traumatized by his untimely death. I offer my deepest sympathies to them.

Lamb's co-workers are calling this Sutter motorcycle crash "avoidable." This fatal motorcycle accident is apparently causing renewed calls for a traffic signal at that busy intersection, which is also used by local high school students. Officials say Fernandez did not see the motorcycle and may have been inattentive. A CHP officer had noticed just before the accident that the motorcycle's headlight was on. Officials also say the rising sun was not a factor in this fatal motorcycle collision.

Continue reading " Sutter County Fatal Motorcycle Accident " »

Angels Pitcher Nick Adenhart, Two Others, Killed in Orange County Car Crash

Angels pitcher Nick Adenhart, 22, was one of three people killed in a Fullerton car accident, which was caused by a driver who ran a red light. According to a news report in The Orange County Register, the accident occurred the morning of April 9, 2009 at the street intersection of East Orangethorpe Avenue and South Lemon Street just past midnight when a minivan driven by 22-year-old Andrew Thomas Gallo, ran a red light and slammed into a gray Mitsubishi that Adenhart was in. The Mitsubishi then crashed into a light pole. Two of the occupants of the Mitsubishi died at the scene while Adenhart died a few hours later at the UCI Medical Center in Orange. A fourth occupant is said to be in critical condition. Other than Adenhart, none of the other victims have been identified.

Gallo, the driver of the minivan who ran the red light and caused the fatal car accident, fled the scene. But he was later arrested and charged with felony hit-and-run. One of the van's passengers, Raymond Alexander Rivera, was taken to an area hospital with minor injuries.

My heart goes out to everybody who knew, loved and admired young Nick Adenhart – a promising player who had just earned a spot in the starting rotation and pitched for the Angels the night before his death. Apparently, Adenhart got this break after he impressed manager Mike Scioscia late in spring training. What a tragedy for his family, friends and Angels fans! A beautiful, young life was cut short because of a negligent driver who ran a red light. Heartbreaking! Please keep Adenhart's family and friends in your prayers. My profound sympathies are also with the families and friends of the other victims of this tragic car collision. Such incidents are constant reminders that life is ever precious and no one is immune from these tragedies.

Continue reading " Nick Adenhart Killed In Orange County Car Crash " »

Fatal Orange County Car Accident

Two teenagers – 18-year-old Mark Motley and 17-year-old Zachary Raffety – were tragically killed after their silver Mustang crashed in Trabuco Canyon the afternoon of April 7, 2009, The Orange County Register reports. Excessive speed and inexperience may have led to this fatal Orange County car accident, which occurred on the winding and treacherous Live Oak Canyon Road. According to California Highway Patrol officials, since 2007, there have been six people killed in fatal car crashes on Live Oak Canyon Road.

Officials say this fatal auto accident occurred after Motley, Rafferty and a third friend, 18, set out in two cars on a drive. The third teen, who was driving a Mazda, was following Motley's Mustang. Authorities initially believed the cars were street racing, but have now determined that they were not racing. Motley lost control of the Mustang and crashed into a tree. CHP officials said the posted speed limit on Live Oak Canyon is 35 mph, but they believe based on the skid marks from the Mustang's tires, that Motley was driving at a much higher rate of speed.

My heart goes out to the families of Mark Motley and Zachary Raffety for their tragic and heartbreaking loss. I offer my deepest sympathies to all who knew and loved these two young men. I also feel for the young man who witnessed this horrific car crash involving his friends. Please keep all of them in your prayers. Excessive speed and inexperience can turn out to be a lethal combination and this incident is a tragic reminder of that.

Continue reading " Orange County Auto Accident " »

San Bernardino County Fatal DUI Rear-End Accident

Margarita Rodriguez-Dominguez, a 40-year-old woman, died in a Rialto car accident the morning of April 5, 2009 after the vehicle she was a passenger in was struck by a suspected drunk driver involved in a police chase. According to a news report in the San Bernardino Sun, San Bernardino patrol officers observed a 1994 Lincoln Towncar engage in a traffic violation at the street intersection of Foothill Boulevard and Rancho Avenue. When officials attempted to pull over the driver, he did not stop. The pursuit continued into Rialto, where it ended after the driver rear-ended a 1991 Honda Accord that was about to make a left turn onto Foothill Boulevard from Riverside Avenue.

Rodriguez-Dominguez was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the Honda Accord and two other passengers sustained moderate injuries and were taken to a local hospital. The driver of the Towncar, 19-year-old Johnny Morales, was arrested and charged with murder.

My heart goes out to the family and friends of Margarita Rodriguez-Dominguez, who was tragically killed because of the recklessness and negligence of this person who decided to get drunk and get behind the wheel. I offer my deepest sympathies to them. Not only did the teen driver, Johnny Morales, drink and drive. He broke the law and evaded police officers when they tried to stop him. I trust that he will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

Continue reading " San Bernardino County DUI Accident " »

Fatal Ventura County Car Accident

Lydia Marie Faltin, 20, died in a Camarillo car accident the morning of April 4, 2009, the Ventura County Star reports. Faltin, a Newbury Park resident, was driving southbound on Temple Avenue near Lewis Road when she apparently lost control of her car, veered off the roadway and struck two trees and a wall. The Ventura County Sheriff's Department officials said alcohol or drugs did not seem to be a factor in this auto accident. They are asking any one who may have witnessed this fatal car accident to contact the Camarillo Police Department at 805-388-5132.

I offer my deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Lydia Marie Faltin for their tragic and untimely loss. Please keep them in your prayers.

According to California Highway Patrol's 2007 traffic accident statistics, there was one fatal traffic accident and 337 auto accidents involving injuries in Camarillo. In Ventura County as a whole, there were 71 deaths and 3,993 injuries as a result of car accidents in 2007.

Continue reading " Fatal Ventura County Car Accident " »

Orange County Fatal Rollover Collision Involving Police Car Kills Couple

Susanne Antuna, 54 and Charles Antuna, 55, were killed in a La Habra car accident the night of April 5, 2009 after their vehicle collided with an on-duty police car, The Orange County Register reports. The Antunas were traveling east on La Habra Boulevard when their 2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser crashed into a police car that was headed north on Euclid Street. The Cruiser rolled over and landed upside down. Susanne Antuna was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash while Charles Antuna was taken to the hospital with injuries. He died the next day. The police officer was also injured and taken to a hospital.

The police officer was apparently speeding on his way to back up fellow officers who were in pursuit of parolee Roary William Gorbea. Gorbea was arrested later that night on suspicion of indirectly causing the fatalities by leading police on a pursuit. The California Highway Patrol is investigating the fatal car accident.

My heart goes out to everybody who knew and loved Susanne and Charles Antuna. I offer my deepest condolences to their family and friends for their heartbreaking loss. Clearly, they were in the wrong place at the wrong time. Please keep them in your prayers.

Barely a day after this tragedy occurred, there is already controversy about the facts and circumstances of the accident. According to another article in the Los Angeles Times, CHP investigators are saying that the La Habra police officer was driving with his lights and sirens on. But the Antunas' daughter, Andrea, says eyewitnesses told her that the police car did not have its lights and sirens on at the time of the car crash. Andrea Antuna also said that authorities took the police officer to the hospital while waiting hours before transporting her father who was critically injured. In fact, one witness, 27-year-old Hugo Islas of Rancho Cucamonga says the cop car "flew through the intersection" and hit the Antuna's PT Cruiser.

Continue reading " Orange County Rollover Collision " »

Caltrans Bans Trucks on Highway after Fatal Big Rig Accident

Caltrans' top official has issued a temporary ban on trucks from using a portion of the Angeles Crest Highway after a La Canada Flintridge big rig accident on April 3, 2009 killed two people and injured 12 others. That accident killed 12-year-old Angelina Posca and her 58-year-old father Angel Jorge Posca, both from Palmdale. According to an Associated Press news report, Caltrans has barred vehicles with five axles from a section of Angeles Crest Highway for 90 days, after local officials said Caltrans took no action in spite of constant warnings about the dangerous roadway.

Los Angeles prosecutors have charged the truck driver, 43-year-old Marcos Costa, involved in last week's crash with two counts of vehicular manslaughter. Each felony count carries a maximum of 12 years in state prison. The state highway in question, also known as Route 2, extends from La Canada Flintridge into the mountains where it connects with a county road, Angeles Forest Highway. Costa, like many other commuters, used Route 2 as a shortcut between the high desert and Los Angeles rather than taking the freeway, which is where he should've been. He ignored a truck ban on the county road and took it anyway. Commercial trucks, however, have been allowed on the Angeles Crest Highway.

City officials warned Caltrans about the dangerous situation in September, when a big rig carrying onions went out of control on the grade and crashed into the parking lot of a store, destroying seven parked cars and injuring one person. Caltrans apparently ignored the city's continued pleas to upgrade safety measures

Continue reading " Big Rig Accident " »

Los Angeles County Fatal Motorcycle Accident

Mark Francis Pedace, 44, died in a La Mirada motorcycle accident after he apparently lost control of his vehicle the evening of April 1, 2009, the Whittier Daily News reports. Pedace was riding his Harley-Davidson motorcycle in the 15000 block of Olive Branch Drive in La Mirada when the motorcycle drifted toward the curb. Los Angeles County Sheriff's officials say Pedace tried to correct, but hit the foot guard, which in turn hit the pavement. The front wheel struck the curb and Pedace was thrown off his bike and hit a tree. Pedace was wearing a helmet, but suffered severe head injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.

My heart goes out to the family and friends of Mark Francis Pedace for their tragic loss. I offer my deepest sympathies to them and will keep them in my prayers.

According to the California Highway Patrol's 2007 traffic accident statistics, there were no fatalities and no injury accidents involving motorcycles in La Mirada. However, in Los Angeles County as a whole, it was a different story. There were 85 deaths and 2,792 injuries relating to motorcycle accidents in Los Angeles County in 2007. More recent CHP studies also show 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. In California, 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.

Continue reading " Los Angeles Motorcycle Accident " »

Man Killed In Los Angeles County Hit-and-Run Accident

David Ronald Bork, 45, was killed in a Los Angeles hit-and-run auto accident the night of March 26, 2009, the Daily Breeze reports. Bork was apparently sleeping in the rear of a business in the Los Feliz area when an ambulance driver ran him over, didn't stop and left Bork with massive head injuries. The early morning hit and run accident occurred in the 1600 block of North Vermont Avenue, Los Angeles Police Department officials said.

The ambulance driver, possibly driving a private company's vehicle, left the scene without identifying himself or rendering aid. He may have even had a passenger in the ambulance, officials say. Police are asking for the public's help in finding this hit-and-run ambulance driver. If you saw this accident or have any information, please call Detective M. Kaden at the LAPD's Central Traffic Division at 213-972-1853.

My heart goes out to the family of David Ronald Bork for their tragic loss. I offer my deepest condolences to everybody who knew and loved this man. Please keep them in your prayers. I trust police will soon apprehend this negligent driver and hold him responsible for the accident and Bork's death

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Los Angeles County Big Rig Accident Kills 2, Injures 12

Angelina Posca, 12, and her father Angel Jorge Posca, 58, of Palmdale, died and 12 people were injured – three of them critically, in a La Canada Flintridge big rig accident after a large out-of-control truck crashed into a local shopping center, the Los Angeles Times reports. The fatal truck crash occurred the afternoon of April 1, 2009 when a big rig descending the Angeles Crest Highway plowed through a busy intersection, struck several vehicles and crashed into a shopping complex.

The double-decker big rig apparently lost control at Foothill Boulevard and Angeles Crest and smashed into a bookstore and a nail salon. The driver of the big rig, 43-year-old Marcos Costa, has been arrested on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter. Police say he was a licensed Florida truck driver.

My heart goes out to the Posca family for their heartbreaking loss. I offer my deepest condolences to everyone who knew and loved Angel and Angelina. It is tragic that this father and his daughter were killed in this wrongful death accident because of the negligence of others.

According to the Department of Transportation's Fatality Analysis Reporting System, there were 363 fatalities and 5,959 injuries related to big rig accidents in California in 2007.

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Los Angeles County Auto Accident Kills Well-Known Writer

Michael Sommer, a noted writer and political consultant, died in an Los Angeles auto accident after he was struck in the parking lot of a medical building in Agoura Hills, according to an article in the Ventura County Star. Sommer, 73, a Thousand Oaks resident, was sitting on a retaining wall along the 29500 block of Canwood Street with his 98-year-old mother, Ann Sommer, on March 25, 2009 when a sedan hit both of them. The impact from the crash nearly severed one of Sommer's legs. Both Sommer and his mother died of fatal injuries.

Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department officials say that the accident occurred when 75-year-old Elaine Roth of Woodland Hills was trying to park her car. Roth stepped on the accelerator instead of stepping on the brake. Her sedan jumped over a concrete wheel-stop and crashed into the retaining wall where Sommer and his mother were sitting. Police say alcohol did not seem to have been a factor in this fatal Agoura Hills car crash. Sommer was waiting at the time for his wife, Veronika, to pick them up.

This is no doubt a heartbreaking loss for the Sommer family. I offer my deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Michael and Ann Sommer. Michael Sommer was a political adviser to the campaigns of John F. Kennedy, Lyndon Johnson and Jimmy Carter. He was also a newswriter for several Los Angeles radio and television stations and later became a speech writer as well.

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Two Hurt in Orange County Multi-Vehicle Crash

Two people – Ohannes Yagjian, 83 and Thomas Jepeway, 56 -- suffered critical injuries in a Huntington Beach auto accident the morning of March 31, 2009, The Orange County Register reports. Six vehicles were involved in the crash that occurred at the intersection of Warner Avenue and Newland Street. It happened when a Honda sedan driving east collided with a northbound white Toyota Tacoma pickup truck in the intersection, Huntington Beach police said.

Both Yagjian and Jepeway were taken to area hospitals in critical condition. Officials are still investigating the cause of the crash, but say that it was not alcohol-related. Officials are asking anyone who saw this accident to call their traffic bureau at 714-536-5670.

Based on this news report, it appears that the Honda was going east on Warner and the Toyota Tacoma was going north on Newland. Who is determined to be at fault for this accident will depend on who had the right-of-way at the time of this auto accident. Running a red light is a serious traffic violation in California. There are various California Vehicle Code sections that are part of what we commonly refer to as "rules of the road." These code sections address motorists' behavior at intersections, especially those controlled by traffic signals.

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