California Injury Blog

A 26-year-old man was killed in an OC car accident after he was struck by a vehicle while crossing the street, The Orange County Register reports. The man was crossing the street near the intersection of Lincoln Avenue and Peregrine Street in Anaheim, the night of December 23, 2009, when he was hit. Anaheim police officials say the victim was walking in a crosswalk, but are looking into whether he had the right-of-way at the time. The driver initially fled the scene, but turned around and came back in a few minutes. Police say they are not treating the case as a hit-and-run and have not arrested the driver.

My heart goes out to the family and friends of this pedestrian accident victim for their tragic and sudden loss. I offer my deepest condolences to everyone who knew and loved this man. Please keep them in your prayers. I’m also pleased to note that this driver found the courage to return to the scene of the accident despite initially leaving in a panic. He did the right thing.
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An 82-year-old man was fatally injured in a Los Angeles car accident after he was struck by a vehicle while crossing a street in Santa Monica, the morning of December 15, 2009. According to a news report in the Los Angeles Times, the elderly pedestrian was crossing at 18th Street and California Avenue when he was hit. Santa Monica police officials say the vehicle was heading west on California Avenue. The pedestrian was walking east in an unmarked crosswalk. The driver then made a left turn and struck the pedestrian. The critically injured pedestrian was transported to a local hospital where he died two days later. An investigation is ongoing.

I offer my deepest condolences to the family and friends of this victim. My heart goes out to everyone who knew and loved this man. Please keep them in your prayers.
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Jamel Kammoun, 49, was killed in a Los Angeles car accident, after he was struck by an out of control car while on his morning walk in Rancho Palos Verdes. According to a news report in the Daily Breeze, the accident occurred the morning of December 20, 2009 as Kammoun was walking along Hawthorne Boulevard, near Alta Vista Drive. A 17-year-old driver was apparently speeding on Hawthorne when he lost control of his vehicle. The driver had two high school age passengers with him at the time.

The car went up the curb, hitting Kammoun, sideswiping several trees and broke a section of a block wall. One of the passengers in the car was hurt. Kammoun was transported to a local hospital where he died shortly after the accident. The teen driver has not yet been arrested, but officials say it’s possible that he will face vehicular manslaughter charges. An investigation is ongoing.
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Lucy Solares, 68, was killed in an Orange County car accident, after the van she was riding in crashed into three other vehicles the afternoon of December 16, 2009. According to a news report in The Orange County Register, Solares was riding in the back of a specially outfitted used van to transport patients in wheelchairs. She was on her way back from physical therapy when the southbound van crashed into two vehicles leaving the 405 Freeway and making a left onto northbound Euclid Street. The impact spun the van around and caused it to hit a fourth vehicle, before falling over to its side. Solares died at the scene. Three of the drivers were transported to area hospitals with moderate injuries. Witnesses to this accident are asked to call the Fountain Valley Police Department at 714-593-4481.

I offer my deepest condolences to the family and friends of Lucy Solares for their sudden and tragic loss. My heart goes out to everyone who knew and loved this woman. They will certainly be in my prayers.
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Lillian Biundo, 61, was fatally injured in a Riverside car accident, after the SUV in which she was a passenger collided with a van at a Menifee intersection the morning of December 16, 2009, according to news reports and the Riverside County Coroner’s Office. A preliminary investigation by the Menifee Traffic Reconstruction Team determined that a Honda Odyssey van was traveling east on Mapes Road and failed to yield to northbound traffic on Menifee Road.
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Five people were injured — one of them seriously — in a Los Angeles car accident the morning of December 14, 2009, the San Gabriel Valley Tribune reports. The collision involved five vehicles and occurred on the 605 Freeway near the 10 Freeway, in Baldwin Park. The chain reaction crash began when a black Honda CRV, driven by 53-year-old Rachel Gaytan, veered right, from the fast lane, and into traffic. She hit a Nissan Murano being driven by Heidi Russell, 56. The Nissan was then pushed into a Pontiac Grand Prix driven by Alfredo Santana, 42. The Pontiac in turn, slammed into the rear of a big rig, which was directly ahead. Jose Ruben, 45, the driver of the big rig lost control and hit a Honda Accord driven by 34-year-old Thomas Ly.
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Carmelita Delsol Rayos, 68, was killed in a Long Beach car accident, after she was struck by an SUV while crossing the road. According to a news report in The Press Telegram, Rayos was trying to cross West Willow Street at the corner of Baltic Avenue the morning of December 14, 2009, when a black 2003 GMC Yukon crashed into her. Rayos’ body was thrown at least 75 feet from the point of impact and she died at the scene. Long Beach police officials said Rayos was crossing at the intersection although there was no marked crosswalk there. The driver of the SUV, identified only as a 42-year-old man, was uninjured. He was not cited or arrested, pending a police investigation.

I offer my deepest condolences to the family and friends of Carmelita Delsol Rayos for their tragic, sudden and heartbreaking loss. My heart goes out to everyone who knew and loved this woman. Please keep them in your prayers.
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