California Injury Blog
One person was fatally injured in a car accident after a sedan collided with another vehicle that overturned on the 73 Toll Road. According to a news report in the Orange County Register, the fatal crash occurred the afternoon of June 15 near the border of Newport Beach and Irvine. The 19-year-old driver suspected of causing the crash has been arrested.
Speed May Have Been a Factor
The collision occurred in the southbound lanes near Jamboree Road. California Highway Patrol officials said at least one witness reported seeing a white 2020 BMW 540i that may have been speeding before it rear-ended a 1959 Jaguar XK150. The impact from the collision caused the driver of the vintage sports car to lose control and travel onto an embankment. The coupe then struck a highway road sign and rolled over several times.
The driver of the Jaguar suffered traumatic injuries and died at the scene. The BMW’s driver sustained non-life-threatening injuries when the sedan slammed into a concrete divider. He was identified as 19-year-old Eric Arakelyan and was arrested on suspicion of causing the fatal crash. CHP investigators, based on a preliminary investigation, do not believe alcohol was a factor in the crash.
We offer our deepest condolences to the family members of this deceased victim. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.
Laws and Liability Issues
Based on this news report, it appears that the driver of the BMW may have been speeding right before he rear-ended the Jaguar. Under California law, it is not only illegal to drive over the speed limit, but also to drive at a speed that is unsafe for the conditions that are present at the time.
California Vehicle Code Section 22350 (Basic Speed Law) states: “No person shall drive a vehicle upon a highway at a speed greater than is reasonable or prudent having due regard for weather, visibility, the traffic and on surface and width of, the highway, and in no event at a speed which endangers the safety of persons or property.”
In such cases, where recklessness or negligence may be a factor, victims’ families may be able to file a wrongful death lawsuit seeking compensation for damages such as medical expenses, funeral costs, lost future income, pain and suffering, and loss of love, care and companionship. Injured victims and families of deceased victims in such cases would be well advised to contact an experienced Orange County car accident lawyer who will stay on top of the official investigation and make sure that their legal rights and best interests are protected.
Source: https://www.ocregister.com/2021/06/15/1-killed-in-crash-on-73-toll-road-near-newport-beach-irvine-border/