California Injury Blog

WeTip, a nonprofit anonymous crime reporting service, and the California personal injury lawyers of BISNAR | CHASE have just launched the California Hit-and-Run Reward Program with hopes of lowering the devastatingly high number of hit-and-run accidents that occur in California every year.

"California hit-and-run accidents have reached epidemic proportions," said John Bisnar, founder of BISNAR | CHASE. "The goal of the Hit-and-Run Reward Program is to wipe out California hit-and-run offenses by offering cash rewards to anonymous tipsters who care enough to report these crimes."

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Jordan Rapp, 29, sustained major injuries in a Ventura car accident after his bicycle was struck by a driver who turned in front of him the evening of March 23, 2010. The Ventura County Star reports that Rapp, a professional triathlete, was riding his bicycle north on Lewis Road near University Drive, in Camarillo. Officials say, at that moment the driver of the other vehicle turned left, directly, in front of Rapp's bike. Rapp was thrown to the ground in the collision. However, the driver did not stop at the scene. Police are looking for the hit-and-run driver. The vehicle has a shattered left window and possible body damage on the left side. Anyone with information is asked to Lt. Casey Cronin at 805-477-4100 or leave an anonymous tip at 1-800-6-Hit-N-Run (800-644-8678).

I sympathize with Rapp and his family for this horrific accident. Rapp is not only a champion triathlete, but also apparently a kind-hearted man who rode to raise money for underprivileged children. I hope his injuries were not catastrophic and that he can continue being the true champion that he is. Rapp and his family will be in my thoughts and prayers.

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San Rafael police have arrested a Novato man in connection with a hit-and-run San Francisco car accident in which a teen pedestrian was injured. According to a CBS News report, two girls -- ages 15 and 16 -- were crossing Second Street in San Rafael, in a marked crosswalk, the evening of March 8, 2010, when a maroon van southbound on B Street, hit them. One of the girls sustained leg injuries. The driver did not stop and continued east on Second Street.

Hit-and-Run Suspect Apprehended

However, a witness wrote down the van's license plate number and reported it to authorities. A Marin County Sheriff's deputy driving north on Highway 101 near Lucas Valley Road, spotted the suspect vehicle, and arrested 48-year-old Gbayere Germain Any on charges of felony hit-and-run and failure to yield to a pedestrian, which is an infraction, a much lesser crime.

I hope and pray that neither of the two young victims was seriously injured. I wish the injured girl the very best for a quick and complete recovery.

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A couple has been arrested on suspicion of murder and hit-and-run in connection with a San Bernardino car accident that killed 19-year-old Thomas Joseph Meeks and critically injured his 15-year-old stepbrother Christopher. According to a news report in the San Bernardino Sun, the couple -- Heriberto Eddie Solis, 25, and 20-year-old Glory Maria Gurrola -- was trying to escape after attempting to steal a car stereo from a vehicle at a nearby parking lot. It was during their getaway that they struck the brothers who were double-riding across the street on a bicycle.

The couple was arrested when they came into the police station to collect their 1991 Toyota Camry, which was the suspect vehicle in the Feb. 19 hit-and-run collision. Solis and Gurrola admitted to hitting the brothers, but said that they fled the scene because they were scared.

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A man was killed in a Los Angeles car accident involving a hit-and-run driver on the 10 Freeway. According to a CBS News report, the fatal car accident occurred the night of February 18, 2010 in the westbound 10 Freeway in West Covina near Azusa Avenue. The victim, a West Covina resident, died at the scene. Police are still searching for two suspects who California Highway Patrol officials say, fled the scene of the crash.

I offer my deepest condolences to everybody who knew and loved this man. Please keep this family in your thoughts and prayers during their time of grief.

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Sanjay Patel, 26, was seriously injured in a Sacramento car accident after the bicycle he was riding was struck by a vehicle the night of January 31, 2010. According to a news report, Patel was riding his bike on Folsom Boulevard near the Highway 50 overpass when a Ford Explorer struck his bicycle. The driver of the SUV, later identified as 23-year-old Amira Fakira, had continued without stopping after the collision, and dragged Patel who was trapped under the vehicle, a quarter of a mile to Norcade Circle. She then struck another vehicle. Patel was then dislodged from underneath the vehicle as Fakira made a three-point turn back toward Folsom Boulevard.

A witness to this horrific hit-and-run accident managed to grab the keys from the ignition of Fakira's SUV when it was stopped at a red light and detained her until California Highway Patrol officials arrived on scene. Witnesses also told officials that the driver of the Explorer drifted into the bike lane and hit the cyclist. Fakira was arrested on suspicion of felony hit-and-run and drunk driving. Patel remains hospitalized in serious condition.

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Cody Rodenbucher, 17, was killed in a Riverside car accident when he was struck by a vehicle while walking along a street in Banning. According to a KPSP news report, Cody was hit by a dark-colored car in the 4500 block of Ramsey Street early morning on January 30, 2010. He died at the scene from severe injuries. The driver of the vehicle fled the site of the fatal injury accident. However, a surveillance camera nearby apparently captured images of the car as it traveled east on Ramsey.

Officials tracked down the car to the parking lot of a nearby hotel and interviewed 28-year-old Sachin Bhakta in connection with the incident. He is being viewed as a "person of interest" in this fatal hit-and-run pedestrian accident. Anyone who saw this incident or has more information is asked to contact Banning police officials at 951-922-3170.

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

Continue reading "Teen Pedestrian Killed in Riverside Hit-and-Run Car Accident" »

A 15-year-old skateboarder killed in a San Diego car accident on January 29, 2010, has been identified as Lucas Giaconelli. According to a 10news report, Lucas was skateboarding with friends on Thibodo Road, near Edna Way, when a speeding Toyota Camry hit him from behind. The teen was soon transported to a local hospital with critical injuries, but died shortly afterward. The driver of the Camry did not stop and fled the scene of the fatal pedestrian accident. San Diego Sheriff's deputies are looking for a white 1990s Toyota Camry with tinted windows, a broken headlight and front-end damage. Anyone with information is asked to call the sheriff's department at 858-565-5200.

My thoughts and prayers go out to the family of young Lucas Giaconelli for their tragic, heartbreaking and untimely loss. I offer my deepest condolences to everyone who knew and loved this boy.

Continue reading "Teen Skateboarder Killed in Vista Hit-and-Run Car Accident" »

A man was hospitalized with injuries in a Los Angeles car accident after his bicycle was struck by a vehicle in West Hollywood. According to a news report in the Los Angeles Times, the cyclist was riding south on La Cienega Boulevard after midnight on December 1, 2009, when a vehicle ran into him at Holloway Drive. The extent of the bicyclist's injuries is not known yet. He was taken to an area hospital following the collision. The driver of the vehicle, however, did not stop and fled the scene. Anyone with information about this hit-and-run collision is asked to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department at 310-855-8850.

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Authorities are looking for the hit-and-run driver who they say caused a fatal Los Angeles car accident, which killed a motorcyclist the night of November 30, 2009. According to a City News Service report, a white Dodge van was traveling west on 120th Street when its driver sped through a red light and struck the man, who was riding a 2001 Suzuki motorcycle south on Main Street. The van then fled the scene of the accident. Los Angeles police said the motorcyclist was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash.

The suspect vehicle is described as a white, 1980s Dodge van with a blue stripe running down the middle of the vehicle. The driver is described as a black man with short hair, wearing black jeans and a white shirt that also has a blue stripe on the middle. The news story indicates that the motorcyclist may have been a member of the Street Heat Motorcycle Club. Anyone who witnessed this fatal hit-and-run car accident is asked to call the South Traffic Division detectives at 323-290-6063.

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Officials in Sacramento are looking for a hit-and-run driver who caused a deadly car accident in California that killed 4-year-old Jonathan Vazquez the morning of November 30, 2009. According to a CBS news report, officials have released video and a description of the vehicle, which they say, struck Jonathan as he was standing outside Smythe Academy and dragged him several feet before speeding away. Jonathan died from his injuries a few hours after the accident in an area hospital.

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Kristi Nicole Turner, 20, was killed in a Los Angeles car accident on November 13, 2009 after she was struck by an SUV while crossing the street. According to a news report in the Daily Breeze, Turner stepped in a crosswalk at Marine and Lemoli avenues in El Camino Village, an unincorporated area of Los Angeles County, when she was hit by an eastbound 1993 Chevy Suburban. Turner died at the scene. The driver of the Suburban kept going without stopping at the site of the accident. Witnesses apparently followed the SUV and flagged down a Hawthorne police officer who pulled the SUV over. California Highway Patrol is investigating this hit-and-run car accident. Investigators are looking into whether Turner had the green light when she stepped in the crosswalk.

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Lisa Xavier, 6, was killed in a San Francisco car accident which officials say was caused by two cars racing on a public street. According to a Bay City News Service report, the tragic car accident occurred the afternoon of November 12, 2009 at the intersection of Willow Road and Bayfront Expressway in Menlo Park when Lisa was traveling in a car with her mother. Police say two cars were street racing when one of them ran a red light and crashed into the car containing Lisa and her mother. The driver of the car that caused the crash got out of the wrecked car, got into the other car involved in the race and fled the accident scene. Police are looking for 24-year-old Shannon Fox as a person of interest in connection with this case. Anyone who may have witnessed this car accident is asked to call Menlo Park police at 650-330-6300.

Continue reading "Girl Killed in San Francisco Car Accident Involving Street Racers" »

A teenager was injured in a Los Angeles motorcycle accident after he was struck by a motorcyclist while walking on the street in an unincorporated area near Covina, California. According to a news report in the San Gabriel Valley Tribune, the 14-year-old boy was walking on Glendora Avenue the evening of November 12, 2009 near Arrow Highway when he was hit by the motorcycle. The teen sustained leg injuries and was taken to an area hospital. No one else was injured. However, the motorcyclist did not stop at the scene of the accident, but instead sped away at 50 to 70 mph, California Highway Patrol officials said. Witnesses are only able to describe the motorcycle as black and no description of the rider is available.

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Michelle Ramirez, 14, was killed in a Bakersfield car accident the evening of November 10, 2009, according to an ABC news report. Police arrested 46-year-old Glenn Russell the morning after the fatal pedestrian accident. Michelle was crossing Kern Street near 2nd Street in Taft when she was hit by a white Jeep Cherokee. Officers spotted the vehicle in Ford City and saw that Russell was working on his car trying to fix the damage from the collision. Russell apparently pled no contest to a DUI in 2007. He was booked this time on suspicion of felony hit-and-run.

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A 62-year-old man in a wheelchair sustained serious injuries in an Orange County car accident the night of October 31, 2009 and police are still looking for public's help in finding the driver who struck the man and then fled the scene. According to a news report in The Orange County Register, the man was in his wheelchair near Wellington Avenue and North Lacy Street in Santa Ana when a large white van traveling west, struck him. The van driver kept going, but police believe the vehicle suffered front-end damage. The man in the wheelchair sustained major injuries and was transported to an area hospital. Anyone who witnessed this car accident or has information about the hit-and-run driver is asked to call Santa Ana police at 714-245-8701.

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A teenager suffered injuries in an October 5, 2009 Los Angeles car accident after she was hit by the driver of a pickup truck in a crosswalk in La Puente. According to a news report in the San Gabriel Valley Tribune, two teenage girls were walking on Nelson Avenue and were in a crosswalk when a white truck came toward them. One of the girls was able to dodge the vehicle, but the other was hit. She was transported to an area hospital with injuries. The suspect who then fled the scene, is described as a Latino man between 21 and 25 years of age with dark hair. He was apparently driving a newer model white Toyota Tacoma. If you have information about this incident, please call the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department at 626-330-3322.

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Guadalupe Colmenares, 19, was killed and her aunt, 37-year-old Rita Colmenares and 14-year-old cousin were injured in a Los Angeles car accident after they were struck by a car in a crosswalk in the Boyle Heights area. According to a CBS news report, the accident occurred the night of September 25, 2009. Investigators say 29-year-old Carol Eleana Vega was driving her 1993 Chrysler Concord when she ran a red light and hit the three women at the intersection of East Sixth Street and Lorena Street. Vega sped away after the crash, but surrendered to police the day after the fatal crash. Guadalupe Colmenares was pronounced dead in the hospital while Rita Colmenares remains in critical condition. The teenager suffered cuts, police said.

Continue reading "Fatal Los Angeles Car Accident Kills Pedestrian" »

A $50,000 reward is being offered in the hit-and-run death of 29-year-old Federico Porras who was killed in a Los Angeles car accident after the motorcycle he was riding was struck by a car. According to a news report in The Long Beach Press Telegram, Porras was riding a 2007 Honda motorcycle on Marianna Avenue on August 3, 2009 when he was hit by a car that fled the accident scene. Officials are describing the hit-and-run car as a 2006 Nissan Versa C11X hatchback that may have a damaged rear quarter panel. No other information about this fatal motorcycle accident is available. If you witnessed this accident or have any information that would be helpful to police please call detectives at 213-972-1845 or toll-free at 877-527-3247.

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Manuel George, 58, was injured in a September 23, 2009 San Francisco car accident that involved at least four vehicles, the Santa Rosa Press Democrat reports. California Highway Patrol officials said the chain of events began when George rear-ended a Pontiac Bonneville with his Toyota Camry while traveling north on the Highway 101 near Healdsburg. The Pontiac then rear-ended a Nissan Sentra driven by 29-year-old Scott Llewellyn.

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