California Injury Blog

Published on: February 3, 2010

Sacramento Hit-and-Run Car Accident Injures Bicyclist

By Brian Chase

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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Published on: February 2, 2010

Teen Pedestrian Killed in Riverside Hit-and-Run Car Accident

By Brian Chase

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.
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Published on: February 1, 2010

Teen Skateboarder Killed in Vista Hit-and-Run Car Accident

By Brian Chase

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.
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Published on: January 31, 2010

Fresno DUI Car Accident Kills Driver

By Brian Chase

A Fresno car accident involving a suspected drunk driver fatally injured a 76-year-old man the afternoon of January 24, 2010. According to a news report in the Fresno Bee, the fatal car accident occurred when 23-year-old Michael Freeman who was traveling west on McKinley Avenue, struck a Nissan Frontier that was going south on the Highway 145. The Nissan’s driver was taken to an area hospital where he was pronounced dead. Freeman was also injured. Authorities arrested Freeman on suspicion of drunk driving. A 22-year-old passenger in Freeman’s car also sustained major injuries.

My heart goes out to this victim’s family for their sudden and devastating loss. They will certainly be in my thoughts and prayers.
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Published on: January 30, 2010

Four Sustain Injuries in San Francisco Car Accident

By Brian Chase

A San Francisco car accident that occurred the morning of January 27, 2010 has left four people with serious injuries. According to a CBS News report, the injury collision happened at the intersection of Arch Street and Brotherhood Way. One of the drivers fled the crash scene. However, he was apprehended immediately afterward by responding police officers. Three injured victims from the car that was struck by the hit-and-run suspect were taken to an area hospital. The victims, including an infant, are expected to survive.

I sympathize with the victims who apparently suffered serious but non life-threatening injuries in this car accident. I’m pleased to note that they are recovering. I hope and pray that they recover quickly and completely.

According to California Highway Patrol’s 2007 Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), there were 51 fatalities and 3,632 injuries involving car accidents in San Francisco.
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Published on: January 29, 2010

Murder Charges Filed in Los Angeles DUI Car Accident

By Brian Chase

A 27-year-old man faces two counts of murder and other charges stemming from a fatal Los Angeles car accident, which killed 20-year-old Renee Hardy and 22-year-old Telassie Dague. According to a news report in the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, Alan Michael McConnell was intoxicated early morning January 23, 2010 as he drove east on Foothill Boulevard in La Verne in Dague’s car. The car collided with another vehicle at the intersection of Foothill and Damien Avenue. McConnell tried to flee the scene of the crash, lost control and hit a tree in the median. Hardy and Dague sustained fatal injuries, but McConnell was uninjured.

McConnell is also facing four misdemeanor charges for driving intoxicated, hit-and-run, driving on a suspended license and for driving without proof of insurance, which is an infraction. He is facing murder charges because he has a prior DUI conviction.

My heart goes out to the families and friends of Renee Hardy and Telassie Dague for their untimely loss. This story is yet another tragic reminder of the consequences of drinking and driving. It’s a no-win situation for everyone concerned. Tragic!
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Published on: January 28, 2010

Fatal Fresno DUI Car Accident

By Brian Chase

A 76-year-old man was fatally injured in a Fresno car accident after his vehicle was struck by a suspected drunk driver the afternoon of January 24, 2010. The Fresno Bee reports that 23-year-old Michael Freeman was heading west on McKinley Avenue when he struck a Nissan Frontier, which was southbound on Highway 145. The driver of the Nissan was transported to a local hospital where he died from his injuries. Freeman sustained major injuries, but was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence. Dustin Perger, 22, who was a passenger in Freeman’s car, was also hospitalized with serious injuries.

I offer my deepest condolences to the family and friends of the deceased victim for their tragic and heartbreaking loss. Please keep them in your prayers.
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Published on: January 27, 2010

Orange County Car Accident Injures Pedestrian

By Brian Chase

Tung Hoang, 34, was critically injured in a Garden Grove car accident after he was hit by a car while trying to cross the street. According to a news report in the Garden Grove Journal, Hoang was injured in the collision the night of January 22, 2010 while walking across Ward Street near Bolsa Avenue. He was transported with critical injuries to an area hospital. The driver of the vehicle that struck Hoang was identified as 21-year-old Nguyen Vu. He was apparently going north on Ward when the injury accident occurred. Police have not ruled out the involvement of alcohol or drugs. Vu has not been cited or arrested pending a police investigation. Anyone who witnessed this major injury collision is asked to call Garden Grove police at 714-741-5823.

My heart goes out to Tung Hoang, who has apparently sustained critical injuries in this pedestrian accident. I hope and pray that he makes it through his injuries and has a speedy recovery. Hoang and his family will certainly be in my prayers.
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Published on: January 27, 2010

Why Do Insurance Companies Limit Payouts?

By Brian Chase

As car accident victims who have been catastrophically injured will need to seek compensation for their losses. In many cases you will have to collect some or all of your settlement from an insurance company. Insurance companies have been in the business of making money for some time. Giving away their hard earned money is not something they usually do without a fight.

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Published on: January 26, 2010

Long Beach Car Accident Injures Woman

By Brian Chase

A 54-year-old woman was seriously injured in a Long Beach car accident after the SUV she was driving was hit by a car pulling out of a parking lot. The Press Telegram reports that a 63-year-old driver of a Ford Taurus pulled out of a parking lot striking the woman’s Toyota Landcruiser the morning of January 7, 2010, at the intersection of Redondo Avenue and Kilroy Street. The impact from the collision sent the SUV through a chain link fence and it came to a stop over the edge of an embankment near the 405 Freeway. Firefighters and other emergency personnel had to extricate the woman from the SUV. She was transported to a local trauma unit with severe injuries. The driver of the Ford was uninjured.

My heart goes out to this woman who has apparently been severely injured in this horrific car crash. I hope and pray that she recovers quickly and completely from her injuries. This injured victim will certainly be in my prayers.
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