California Injury Blog

Published on: July 9, 2010

Day One of John and Brian’s Big Adventure

By Brian Chase

We ate breakfast at 7 am. On our fishing boat, we headed out from the harbor to Larsen Bay, passing the hundred-year-old salmon cannery that is still, or again, in operation by 8 am.

Our first stop was still inside the harbor to catch bait. Within 20 minutes, we caught enough bait to set a crab pot and fish all day. Half of the bait is herring that are the size of store-bought farm raised trout. The other half are bigger and substantially bigger cod. If we stopped fishing then, we would have caught an impressive amount of good eating cod.
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Published on: July 8, 2010

Elderly Woman Injured in San Diego Car Accident

By Brian Chase

A 98-year-old woman sustained injuries in a San Diego car accident after the driver of a pickup truck lost control and crashed into her bedroom. According to a 10news report, the crash occurred the morning of July 6, 2010 at the intersection of Stadium Street and Governor Drive. San Diego police officials said a black Ford F-250 pickup truck, which was westbound on Governor Drive, went out of control, crossed over the median, into oncoming traffic ran over a sidewalk and struck the home. The elderly woman’s bed was pushed several feet. She was hospitalized with injuries. The driver sustained injuries. Police say they believe alcohol was involved. An investigation is ongoing.
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Published on: July 7, 2010

Man Fatally Injured In Desert Rollover Accident

By Brian Chase

James Martin, 67, died in a San Bernardino car accident on July 6, 2010. According to a news report in The Press-Enterprise, Martin lost control of his vehicle while driving along Interstate 40. The collision caused his vehicle to leave the roadway and overturn. The cause of this accident is still under investigation.

I offer my deepest sympathies to the family and friends of this fatally injured victim. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers Continue reading →

Published on: July 7, 2010

Woman Killed in Los Angeles Car Accident

By Brian Chase

Matilda Garnica, 43, was killed and her two children were injured in a Los Angeles car accident after a car plowed through a group of spectators who had gathered to watch a fireworks show the night of July 4, 2010. According to a news report in The Signal, a white Infiniti was traveling east on Valencia Boulevard. The driver, a 22-year-old woman, ran a red light at Mall Entrance and crashed into a Dodge Durango SUV that was making a left turn. The impact from the collision caused the Infiniti to crash into a group of people, who were sitting on the south curb of Valencia and watching the fireworks. Garnica was killed instantly and at least seven others, including two of her children, were injured. Her 13-year-old son was critically injured.

I offer my deepest condolences to the family and friends of Matilda Garnica for their tragic and heartbreaking loss. I sincerely hope that her two children and the other injured victims recover quickly and completely. I particularly pray for the two children who saw their mother struck and killed. Please keep this grieving family in your thoughts and prayers.
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Published on: July 6, 2010

Tractor-Trailer Accident in Agoura Hills Kills Two

By Brian Chase

Joshua Dubon, 23, and Richard Vasques, 24, were killed in a Los Angeles car accident early morning on July 2, 2010 after their car struck a tractor-trailer on Highway 101 in Agoura Hills. According to a news report in the Ventura County Star, the fatal crash occurred in the westbound lanes of the highway between Kanan and Reyes Adobe roads. One more person in the car, 21-year-old Soel Dubon, sustained major injuries in the crash. California Highway Patrol officials say all three victims were from Santa Paula.
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Published on: July 4, 2010

Woman Charged with Murder in San Diego Car Accident

By Brian Chase

A woman in San Diego is facing murder charges in connection with a fatal DUI collision that killed 95-year-old Benjamin Friedman on April 21, 2010. The San Diego Union-Tribune reports that 47-year-old Melanie Rebecca Flores is accused of driving under the influence and causing a multi-vehicle accident in Coronado, which killed Friedman who was a passenger in one of the vehicles.

My heart goes out to the family and friends of Benjamin Friedman for their tragic loss. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.
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Published on: July 3, 2010

Pedestrian Accident in Crosswalk Injures Teenager

By Brian Chase

A pedestrian accident in Petaluma resulted in serious injuries for a 16-year-old boy the night of June 24, 2010. The Santa Rosa Press Democrat reports that the injury collision occurred in a crosswalk at the intersection of Healdsburg and Cleveland avenues.

The pedestrian was walking in the crosswalk when a vehicle driven by 18-year-old Michael Petzel hit him. The young pedestrian was transported to an area medical center for treatment of a bloody nose, road rash and shoulder pain. Police suspect the teen driver was at fault for the collision because he apparently failed to yield right-of-way to the pedestrian in the crosswalk.
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Published on: July 3, 2010

Nursing Home Abuse & Neglect Is a Major Problem in the US

By Brian Chase

Many thousands of elderly persons are victims of nursing home abuse and neglect every year in the United States. Nursing home abuse is surprising because these homes are supposed to be regularly inspected by the state and are supposed to live up to certain staffing standards.

Elder abuse can come in several different forms. There is physical abuse which includes not only physical assaults such as hitting or shoving but also the inappropriate use of drugs, restraints, or confinement. Emotional abuse includes intimidation through yelling, threats, humiliation, ridicule, habitual blaming, scape goating, ignoring and terrorizing the elder.
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Published on: July 2, 2010

Ventura DUI Collision Injures Two

By Brian Chase

Esther Bautista, 31, sustained injuries in a Ventura car accident after her car was struck by a suspected drunk driver the afternoon of June 15, 2010. According to a news report in the Santa Paula Times, the accident occurred on Highway 126 in Santa Paula, when 47-year-old Efren Carbajal, who was driving 1988 Ford F-350 pickup truck, rear-ended Bautista’s 1995 Mercury Villager minivan. Bautista’s minivan went off the freeway and rolled over. Bautista was transported to a local hospital. Her two children — 5 and 7 years old — who were in the van, were not injured. Carbajal was arrested on suspicion of felony DUI.
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Published on: July 1, 2010

Modesto Car Accident Kills Motorcyclist

By Brian Chase

Aaron Murdaugh, 24, was killed in a Modesto car accident after his motorcycle was struck by a vehicle that was exiting a local shopping center. According to a news report in the Modesto Bee, the fatal motorcycle crash occurred the night of June 22, 2010. A 66-year-old man was leaving the shopping center from one of its north exits, driving a four-door Toyota sedan. Murdaugh was heading east on Briggsmore Avenue. The Toyota crossed the eastbound lanes of Briggsmore to make a left turn onto the westbound lanes. That was when Murdaugh’s motorcycle struck the Toyota on the driver’s side.

Modesto police say that drugs or alcohol were not factors in this crash. They believe the driver of the Toyota failed to see the approaching motorcycle. No charges have been filed pending an official investigation.
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