California Injury Blog

Three cars collided at the intersection of La Palma Avenue and Brookhurst Street early morning on March 25, 2013 sending at least one person to the hospital. The Orange County Register reports that the injury collision occurred when a Ford Explorer that was northbound on Brookhurst collided with a Honda Civic that was eastbound on La Palma Avenue. The Civic was crushed on the passenger side and the driver was treated for his injuries. Walter Isom, the driver of the Nissan Sentra, was traveling through the green light directly behind the Civic when it was struck and spun into his car, damaging the front end of the Nissan. Isom was not injured. The investigation is still ongoing.

Continue reading "Anaheim Car Crash Causes Injuries" »

Triple A projects that this year 43.6 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more from home during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, which is an increase of 0.7 percent over the 43.3 million people who traveled last year. AAA has also said that this year, about 90 percent or 39.1 million people plan to travel in a vehicle. This is a slight increase compared to last year. While Thanksgiving is a wonderful holiday and a time when families get together, it is also a time when a number of auto accidents occur due to increased traffic on our roadways.

Continue reading "Have a Safe and Happy Thanksgiving" »

A 20-year-old man was fatally injured in a bicycle accident after he was struck by a vehicle at a street intersection. According to a news article in The Orange County Register, the incident occurred at the intersection of Knott and La Palma avenues, the evening of November 5, 2012. Police say the man died from his injuries at a local hospital. The male driver of the vehicle that hit the bicyclist was also transported to a hospital with minor injuries. Investigators are looking into whether the driver or the bicyclist had the right-of-way. Anyone who saw this accident is asked to contact Buena Park police at 714-562-3940.

My thoughts and prayers are with the family members and friends of this deceased victim. I offer my deepest condolences to everyone who knew and loved this man.

Continue reading "Bicyclist Killed in Buena Park Car Accident" »

October 29, 2012--Malibu, CA--The Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu was closed part of Saturday due to a fatal collision between two vehicles, according to ABC News. The PCH was closed for several hours as investigators pieced together what happened in the accident that occurred just after 8:00 a.m.

Continue reading "Two-Car Collision in Malibu Leads to Fatality" »

An 89-year-old woman suffered major injuries in a Glendale car crash after a motorist struck her. According to a news article in The Glendale News-Press, the major injury collision occurred the evening of September 23, 2012 at the intersection of California and South Glendale avenues. Police say the woman was walking east in the California Avenue crosswalk when the motorist who was traveling west to South Glendale struck her. She suffered major body trauma including a broken leg and upper body bone fractures. Preliminary investigations show that the motorist failed to yield the right-of-way to the woman at the crosswalk. The investigation is ongoing.

My thoughts and prayers are with the injured victim of this pedestrian accident. I wish her the very best for a speedy and complete recovery.

Continue reading "Elderly Woman Critically Injured in Glendale Car Accident" »

At least one person was injured in a Newport Beach car accident after two vehicles collided at a street intersection, the afternoon of September 21, 2012. According to the Daily Pilot, the injury collision occurred at the intersection of Newport Coast Drive and Vista Ridge Road. Officials say the accident involved a delivery truck and a small passenger vehicle. The five-ton truck and a smaller car came into "full-speed contact" at the intersection, police said. One person was transported to an area trauma center in stable condition. Both vehicles were traveling at about 40 mph at the time of the crash.

My thoughts and prayers go out to the injured victim of this collision. I wish the victim the very best for a speedy and complete recovery.

Continue reading "Newport Beach Car Accident Causes Injuries" »

A 50-year-old woman suffered major injuries in a Lake Forest car crash after her vehicle collided with a 60,000-pound crane at a street intersection, the morning of September 20, 2012. According to a news article in The Orange County Register, the injury collision occurred at the intersection of El Toro road and Santa Margarita Parkway. Police say the woman was driving northbound on Santa Margarita when her car collided with the crane that was eastbound on El Toro. The woman was transported to an area trauma center with a possibly broken back. The driver of the crane was not injured. At least three witnesses told deputies that the crane had run the red light. The investigation is ongoing.

My thoughts and prayers are with the seriously injured victim of this car crash. I wish here the very best for a speedy and complete recovery.

Continue reading "Lake Forest Crash Seriously Injures Woman" »

Six people were injured in a Los Angeles car accident involving four vehicles, the afternoon of September 18, 2012. According to a report in the Los Angeles Daily News, the injury crash occurred in the 10700 block of North Sepulveda Boulevard in the Mission Hills area. Officials said an SUV exiting the 118 Freeway ran a red light and crashed into a truck that was carrying electrical equipment. The impact caused the truck driver to lose control and strike two other vehicles. Six people were transported to area hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries. It is not clear if the driver of the SUV was cited for the red light violation.

My heart goes out to the injured victims of this crash. I wish them the very best for a speedy and complete recovery. Despite initial reports of serious injuries, I'm relieved to note that none of the injuries proved to be critical. Please keep these victims in your thoughts and prayers.

Continue reading "Six Injured in Mission Hills Car Accident" »

Newport Beach police have arrested a 39-year-old man in connection with a hit-and-run collision that occurred on September 14, 2012. The crash fatally injured reputed Orange County doctor and avid bicyclist, Catherine "Kit" Campion Ritz, 57. According to a news report in The Orange County Register, police arrested Michael Jason Lopez was arrested on September 18, 2012 and has been charged with hit-and-run and vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence. Ritz was killed when she was struck from behind by a pickup truck while riding her bicycle north on Pacific Coast Highway, between Ocean Vista and Vista Ridge.

My heartfelt condolences go out to everybody who knew and loved Ritz, who was apparently a respected professional and a beloved member of the community. The Daily Pilot states that Ritz was a member of the U.S. National Disaster Medical Team and had served for the last 18 years as the president of Greater Newport Physicians. Ritz was also an avid bicyclist, hiker and kayaker. This is indeed a tragic loss for her family and the community.

Continue reading "Police Arrest Man in Connection with Fatal Newport Beach Hit-and-Run" »

Catherine Ritz, 57, of Irvine, was killed in a Newport Beach car accident after she was struck by a pickup truck whose driver fled the scene. According to a news account in The Newport Beach Patch, the fatal bicycle accident occurred the morning of September 15, 2012 on Newport Coast Drive, between Ocean Vista Drive and Vista Ridge Drive. Police say Ritz was riding her bike north on Newport Coast Drive when a black pickup truck hit her from behind. The driver of the truck did not stop and was last seen going northbound on Newport Coast Drive. Ritz was taken to an area hospital in critical condition and succumbed to her injuries.

Police are still looking for the hit-and-run driver. The suspect vehicle has been described as a black, full-sized pickup truck, possibly a 2001 to 2004 Toyota Tacoma with significant damage to the right front area of the vehicle. Anyone with information is asked to contact Newport Beach Traffic Investigator Eric Little at 949-644-3746 or email him at elittle@nbpd.org.

Continue reading "Newport Beach Hit-and-Run Collision Proves Fatal for Bicyclist" »

Jarod Maxwell, 14, was fatally injured in a San Bernardino County car accident after a car struck him as he was on his way to school. According to a news report in The Victorville Daily Press, the pedestrian accident occurred the morning of September 13, 2012 along Baldy Mesa Road in Baldy Mesa. Maxwell was riding his skateboard in the northbound lane when a 2010 Chevrolet Traverse driven by a woman in the same direction hit him. Maxwell was not wearing a helmet and sustained major injuries. He died shortly after the crash at a local hospital. The investigation is ongoing.

My thoughts and prayers go out to the family members and friends of Jarod Maxwell who are mourning the loss of their loved one. I offer my deepest condolences to this grieving family.

Continue reading "Skateboarder Killed in San Bernardino County Car Accident" »

A woman in her 40s was killed in a Santa Ana car accident after a vehicle struck her and left the scene. According to a news report in The Orange County Register, the fatal hit-and-run crash occurred in the 1500 block of West First Street, early morning on September 13, 2012. Police say the homeless woman was pushing a shopping cart when a vehicle hit her and the cart in which she carried her personal belongings. The driver fled without stopping to help the victim. The woman was pronounced dead at the scene. Officials have not yet released a vehicle description, but witnesses said it may have been a white colored pickup truck and that it possibly sustained significant front-end damage. Anyone with information about this fatal crash is asked to contact traffic investigators at 714-245-8216.

I offer my deepest condolences to the family members and friends of this deceased hit-and-run car accident victim. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.

Continue reading "Santa Ana Hit-and-Run Collision Proves Fatal" »

Vanessa Rosales, 38, of Adelanto, was killed in a Victorville car accident, which officials say involved a San Bernardino County Sheriff's patrol vehicle, the night of September 9, 2012. According to a news report in The Press Enterprise, the fatal crash occurred on Air Expressway west of Village Drive. A deputy was driving a prisoner to the Apple Valley Juvenile Detention Center when the patrol car rear-ended a Honda Accord in the eastbound lanes. The Honda then swerved and struck a Mercedes.

Rosales, who was a passenger in the Honda, sustained fatal injuries. The Honda's driver, Immysha Smith and another juvenile passenger in the Honda, were transported to area hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries. Jennifer Tompkins, the driver of the Mercedes, the deputy and the juvenile prisoner, suffered injuries that were described as "minor." The sheriff's Major Accident Investigation Team is looking into the cause of this crash.

Continue reading "Fatal Victorville Car Accident Involves Sheriff's Deputy" »

Two teenaged girls suffered injuries in an El Monte car accident after a pickup truck went up the sidewalk and struck them, the afternoon of September 4, 2012. According to a news article in The San Gabriel Valley Tribune, the injury crash occurred in the 3500 block of Durfee Drive. Police say the Ford F-150 pickup truck ran over the sidewalk and hit the girls. The teens were transported to an area hospital in stable condition. The nature or extent of their injuries is not known. No arrests were made. The investigation is ongoing.

My heart goes out to the two young girls who were injured in this collision. I sincerely hope their injuries are not serious and wish them the very best for a speedy and complete recovery. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.

Continue reading "Two Teens Injured in El Monte Pedestrian Accident" »

A major car accident in Santa Clarita involving two cars and a big rig left two people dead and several others injured early morning on September 4, 2012. According to a CBS Los Angeles news report, the fatal crash occurred on the 5 Freeway near Gorman. California Highway Patrol officials say the cars were traveling southbound and collided with each other for an unknown reason. Four of the injured have been hospitalized in critical condition, while five more sustained non-life-threatening injuries. At least one of the victims is a child who has been rushed to the hospital for treatment. The investigation is ongoing.

I offer my deepest condolences to the deceased victims of this car accident. My heart also goes out to the many injured victims of this crash. I wish them the very best for a speedy and complete recovery. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.

Continue reading "Two Killed, Several Injured in Santa Clarita Area Car Accident" »