Southern California Car Accident Lawyer Blog

Donald Graves, 30, his daughter, 3-year-old Dakota and Andrew Huizar, 20, were all killed in a Riverside car accident the evening of March 9, 2010. The Press-Enterprise reports that Graves was driving east on Florida Avenue near Hemet, in a Chevy Malibu, when the car crossed into opposing lanes and struck a Honda Accord. Huizar, the driver of the Accord, died at the scene. Dakota sustained critical injuries and died at a local hospital. Graves' injuries were also fatal. He was apparently not wearing a seatbelt, but Dakota was buckled into a backward facing car seat.

My heart goes out to the family and friends of Donald and Dakota Graves as well as Andrew Huizar. I offer my deepest condolences to everyone who knew and loved these deceased victims. Please keep them in your prayers.

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Gregory Valenzuela, 22, Raoul Perez, 23, and Manuel Ruiz, 25, were all killed in a Sacramento car accident after the vehicle they were in collided with another near the intersection of Cosumnes River Boulevard and Center Parkway early morning on March 6, 2010. According to a KCRA News report, 25-year-old Omar Carrasco was arrested on suspicion of felony hit-and-run charges since he fled the scene of the crash on foot. Officials said the collision occurred between a Lincoln driven by Carrasco and an Acura. Police are also saying that one of the vehicles ran a red light.

Hit-and-Driver Just Got His License Back

Carrasco apparently just had his license reinstated two days before this fatal crash. He had had his license suspended five times since 2007 for a drunk driving offense, failure to appear for a DUI notice, not completing a DUI treatment program and canceling his auto insurance. Officials said Carrasco was found much later on the day of the crash, at a hospital being treated for injuries he had sustained in the crash.

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A passenger in a minivan was killed in a San Diego car accident after a speeding driver lost control, went into oncoming traffic lanes and struck the minivan. According to a news report in The San Diego Union-Tribune, the fatal accident occurred the afternoon of March 7, 2010 on Wildcat Canyon Road, near Muth Valley Road. California Highway Patrol officials said the driver of a 2004 Ford F-150 was driving at a high rate of speed on a slick roadway, when he lost control and collided head-on with a Plymouth Voyager minivan. The Ford's driver and his son were uninjured. The driver of the minivan sustained moderate injuries while her 62-year-old passenger died. Officials believe that the passenger was not wearing a seatbelt.

My heart goes out to the deceased victim's family and friends for their devastating loss. I offer my deepest sympathies to everyone who knew and loved this man. Please keep them in your prayers.

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Sandy Blake Roberts, 21, was killed in a February 27, 2010 car accident after the vehicle in which he was a passenger crossed over to opposing lanes of traffic and crashed head-on into a pickup truck. The San Luis Obispo Tribune reports that the accident occurred on the Highway 46 east of San Luis Obispo almost near the Kern County border.

Nicole C. Deane, 20, was driving a Chrysler Sebring when she passed another vehicle at a high rate of speed and then lost control of her car. She crossed the center divide and struck a Silverado bearing Manuel Mosqueda, 55, Maria Mosqueda, 54, Luis Carlos Mosqueda, 28 (the driver) and 30-year-old Karla E. Reyes. Everyone in the Silverado sustained moderate injuries. Roberts' injuries proved fatal and Deane was hospitalized with major injuries.

Continue reading "Fatal Car Accident Kills Man, Injures Several Others" »

A judge sentenced a 19-year-old man to one year in jail and six years of probation in connection with a fatal car accident in San Luis Obispo that killed 21-year-old Ashleigh Vermillion, 21, and 30-year-old David Treen, both Visalia residents. According to news reports, Masson Blow was speeding and lost control of his Volkswagen Passat crashing head-on into the vehicle carrying Vermillion, Treen and their 1-month-old daughter Jenna, who survived but sustained permanent injuries in the April 2009 crash. You can read more about the accident from our previous post, "San Luis Obispo DUI Car Accident Kills One". Initial news reports suggested alcohol may have been involved, but later reports corrected that information. Alcohol was not a factor in this collision, officials determined.

Blow initially pleaded not guilty to two felony counts of vehicular manslaughter and one misdemeanor count of reckless driving causing injury, but in November, changed his plea to no contest. Officials had said that alcohol was not a factor in the crash, but that Blow was traveling at a high rate of speed and had lost control of his vehicle. Blow apparently expressed remorse and was tearful at the recent sentencing hearing.

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Isaac Rodriguez, 21, was killed in a San Bernardino car accident after the vehicle he was in was broadsided by a speeding car the night of February 28, 2010. According to a news report in the Victorville Daily Press, Rodriguez was driving a silver Toyota west on Baseline Street near Palm Avenue. He was trying to make a left turn when his car was struck by a Honda driven by 26-year-old Dolores K. Armendarez. Officials say that Armendarez was going at a high rate of speed. The impact from the crash split the Toyota in half. Rodriguez died at the scene. Armendarez and her passenger sustained minor injuries. No arrests have been made pending an investigation.

My heart goes out to everybody who knew and loved Isaac Rodriguez. Apparently, he leaves behind a young child. Tragic! Please keep his grieving family in your thoughts and prayers.

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Randy Hernandez, 20, was killed in a Los Angeles car accident the morning of February 28, 2010 that involved about four vehicles. According to an Associated Press report, the accident involved a gray Land Rover and three other vehicles and occurred on the southbound Harbor (110) Freeway , near Olympic Boulevard. California Highway Patrol officials said an initial collision may have led to a second one. Hernandez was pronounced dead at the scene.

My heart goes out to the family and friends of Randy Hernandez for their devastating loss. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.

Continue reading "Los Angeles Car Accident Proves Fatal for Man" »

A San Bernardino car accident involving a head-on collision resulted in the deaths of three people the night of February 20, 2010. The Inland Valley Daily Bulletin reports that the fatal car accident occurred on the Highway 395 near Rancho Road in Adelanto. California Highway Patrol officials said Brandon Vinson, who was traveling south on the highway, veered into oncoming traffic lanes and collided head-on with a 2003 Hyundai SUV. The driver of the SUV, 42-year-old Denise Jackson and the 20-year-old passenger, Patrice Spead, were ejected from the vehicle. Both sustained fatal injuries. Vinson was also ejected and died at a local hospital.

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Lorena Mancinas, 30, was killed in an Orange County car accident after her 2003 Chevy Tahoe SUV was hit by another car and crashed the afternoon of February 24, 2010. According to a news report in The Orange County Register, Mancinas was driving in the westbound lanes of the 22 Freeway, near Glassell Street, and was ahead of a 2000 Toyota driven by Young Woo Lee, 26. The accident occurred as Lee made a lane change and struck the rear of the Chevy, California Highway Patrol officials said. The Tahoe spun off the roadway and went into a guardrail before rolling over numerous times. Firefighters had to cut into the vehicle to extricate Mancinas. Officials have not made any arrests yet, pending an investigation.

I offer my deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Lorena Mancinas for their tragic loss. Please keep this family in your prayers during their time of grief.

Continue reading "Orange County Car Accident Proves Fatal for Woman" »

Three people were killed in a San Bernardino car accident after two cars collided head-on in Adelanto, the night of February 20, 2010. According to a news report in the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, 34-year-old Brandon Vinson was driving south on Highway 395 near Rancho Road, when he went into oncoming traffic lanes. Vinson's vehicle crashed into a 2003 Hyundai SUV. Two women who were in the Hyundai, 42-year-old Denise Jackson and 20-year-old Patrice Spead were ejected from their vehicles and sustained fatal injuries. Vinson was also thrown from his vehicle and was transported to a local hospital where he died shortly after the crash.

I offer my deepest condolences to the family and friends of Jackson, Spead and Vinson. Please keep these victims and their families in your prayers.

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A man who was killed in a car accident the night of February 16, 2010, has been identified as 58-year-old Robert G. Roe. The Record-Bee reports that the accident occurred on Highway 20, in Lake County, when 44-year-old Daren Norman, who was driving a Nissan Altima west, crossed over the double yellow lines and crashed head-on into Roe's Honda Civic. Norman was trying to pass a big rig when he crossed over to opposing lanes of traffic, California Highway Patrol officials said. Roe was pronounced dead at the scene. Norman was severely injured, but has been charged with felony DUI

I offer my deepest condolences to everyone who knew and loved Robert Roe. This must be a devastating loss for his family and friends. This victim's family will certainly be in my prayers.

Continue reading "Fatal California DUI Car Accident" »

One person was killed in a Los Angeles car accident the night of February 18, 2010 after two vehicles collided head-on in the El Sereno area. According to a CBS News report, the fatal car accident occurred on Eastern Avenue, north of Klamath Place. The driver of the vehicle that was headed northbound died at the scene. Los Angeles firefighters extricated one motorist from wreckage. A woman driving the southbound vehicle was taken to a local hospital with injuries. The extent of her injuries is not known.

I offer my deepest sympathies to the family and friends of the deceased victim. I also hope the other driver did not sustain any catastrophic injuries. Please keep these victims and their families in your prayers.

Continue reading "One Killed, One Injured in Los Angeles Car Accident" »

Robert G. Roe, 58, was killed in a car accident the night of February 16, 2010 after a suspected drunk driver struck him. According to a news report in The Record-Bee, 44-year-old Daren K. Norman was driving a Nissan Altima west on Highway 20. Norman crossed over double yellow lines attempting to overtake a big rig and went head-on into Roe's Honda Civic hatchback. Roe died at the scene. Norman was taken to a local hospital with major injuries. California Highway Patrol officials say they have reason to believe Norman had been drinking. Norman was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence.

My heart goes out to the family and friends of Robert Roe for their tragic and devastating loss. I offer my deepest condolences to them. Please keep this grieving family in your prayers.

Continue reading "Fatal Head-on Crash Caused by Suspected Drunk Driver" »

A chain-reaction San Bernardino car accident involving several vehicles led to the deaths of 32-year-old Ryan Villalpando, his 29-year-old wife Veronica, 4-year-old son Mateo and infant daughter Bella Rose. According to a KTLA News report, the fatal car accident occurred the afternoon of February 13, 2010 on the 15 Freeway near Jurupa Avenue. California Highway Patrol officials said the crash involved two big rigs, a U-Haul truck and two passenger vehicles. Three others sustained non-life-threatening injuries. Officials are still looking into which one of the vehicles caused this tragic car crash.

My heart goes out to everybody who knew and loved this young family. According to news reports Villalpando was a beloved football coach at Moreno Valley High School. I offer my deepest condolences to the family and friends of the victims. Their loved ones will certainly be in my thoughts and prayers.

Continue reading "Family of Four Killed in San Bernardino Car Accident" »

A Riverside car accident involving a SuperShuttle van on Highway 111 caused serious head injuries to a bicyclist, The Desert Sun reports. The injury collision happened the morning of February 11, 2010 near Gateway Road, when the SuperShuttle van was headed north in the right lane of the highway. The driver told police he had noticed the bicyclist riding in the shoulder before he made a sudden left turn movement in front of the van. That caused the van driver to brake and swerve. The van still struck the bicyclist and another car. The bicyclist sustained serious injuries. The occupants of the other car and the van driver were not injured.

I sincerely hope the bicyclist did not suffer any catastrophic injuries and recovers quickly and completely.

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A 48-year-old woman sustained fatal injuries in a car accident after her vehicle was struck head-on by a suspected drunk driver on February 11, 2010. According to a CBS News report, the fatal car accident occurred on Highway 99 when 19-year-old Gill Kushdeep was driving the wrong way on the highway near Bradbury Road, in Atwater. Both Kushdeep and the woman were transported to the hospital, but the female victim died shortly afterward. Kushdeep sustained minor injuries and has been charged with driving under the influence and vehicular manslaughter.

My heart goes out to the family and friends of this DUI accident victim. I offer them my deepest sympathies for their devastating loss. Please keep them in your prayers.

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Luis Sarabia Trujillo, 23, was identified as the driver who was killed in a car accident which officials say was caused by distraction. The crash also killed one of his passengers, 20-year-old Omar Gaytan. According to a news report in The Daily Democrat, the accident occurred on February 4, 2010. David Pearl, 53, was driving his 2002 Ford Ranger pickup north on County Road 89 near CR-26 when he became distracted with the CD player in his truck.

California Highway Patrol officials said Pearl's truck drifted off the right shoulder causing him to overcorrect and sending him into the path of a 1997 Grand Am, driven by Trujillo and traveling in the southbound lane. The result was a head-on collision. Trujillo sustained major head injuries and died at the scene. Pearl sustained minor injuries. Edward Blanco, 30, and Francisco Gonzalez, 24, both passengers in Trujillo's car, were taken to the hospital with injuries.

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David Reid, 50, was killed in a San Diego car accident after his Dodge Caravan was struck head-on by a Ford Mustang the afternoon of January 22, 2010. According to a 10news report, 18-year-old Andrew Bellatti, the driver of the Ford Mustang was traveling at a high rate of speed on Campo Road in Spring Valley – about 80 mph – when he veered into the wrong side of the road and caused the head-on collision. Reid died at the scene and his 17-year-old son, Garrett, sustained major injuries. Bellatti and his 16-year-old female passenger were also hospitalized with major injuries. CHP officials apparently found the wrecked Mustang's speedometer stuck at 80 mph. Drugs or alcohol was not a factor in this fatal car collision, officials say.

I offer my deepest condolences to the family and friends of David Reid for their tragic and heartbreaking loss. This family not only lost a beloved member in such an untimely manner, but they also have to deal with the major injuries suffered by his young son. Please keep this grieving family in your prayers. I also wish all the injured teens here, the very best for a speedy and complete recovery.

Continue reading "San Diego Head-On Collision Kills One, Injures Three" »

A woman who was killed in a car accident caused by a suspected drunk driver has been identified as 38-year-old Sylvia Ziranda. According to a news report in the Visalia Times Delta, Ziranda was the passenger of a Nissan pickup truck, which was traveling south on Road 204 near List Avenue, in Exeter. The Nissan, driven by 42-year-old Andres Rubio Soltero, was struck head-on by the driver of a 1991 Honda who lost control and went into opposing lanes of traffic. The driver of the Honda, 23-year-old Tomas Hernandez, was arrested on suspicion of felony drunk driving. Ziranda was taken to an area hospital where she died. Soltero sustained minor injuries and Hernandez was taken to a hospital with critical injuries.

I offer my deepest condolences to the family and friends of Sylvia Ziranda for their tragic and heartbreaking loss. My heart goes out to everyone who knew and loved this woman. They will be in my prayers. I also hope that Soltero recovers quickly and completely from his injuries.

Continue reading "Fatal California DUI Car Accident " »

Two people were killed in a Los Angeles car accident after two vehicles collided on a Pomona street, the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin reports. Police officials say a 2005 Nissan Frontier pickup truck exited the westbound 10 Freeway the night of January 14, 2010. The pickup truck then ran a red light and struck a 2006 BMW 325i heading north on Towne Avenue. Both cars overturned and one of them was fully engulfed in flames. Both drivers died at the scene.

My heart goes out to the families of the deceased victims in this case. I offer my deepest condolences to them. These grieving families will certainly be in my prayers.

Continue reading "Fiery Los Angeles Car Accident Kills Two" »